Chandler Jones founded Room 412, a small, appointment-only gallery in a Birmingham, Alabama loft, in March 2022. The space functions as an intimate, immersive exhibition environment, described as a cross between a gallery and a mystical hotel room, designed to showcase Alabama artists and foster community connection. Jones, a musician, was motivated by a desire to create a visually and energetically compelling gathering place after being inspired by the historic Chelsea Hotel in New York.
Room 412 highlights the specific artistic landscape and momentum of Birmingham and Alabama at large. Jones curates exhibitions that respond to the region's complex history, spiritual texture, and deep artistic lineages, referencing influential figures like Mose Tolliver and the Gee's Bend Quilters. The gallery represents a grassroots, community-focused model that prioritizes personal engagement over traditional commercial gallery dynamics, underscoring the vitality of local arts ecosystems outside major cultural capitals.