When 404FoundATL first came together in 2023, the goal was not to operate outside Atlanta’s gallery ecosystem. Instead, it was simply a matter of artists who liked each other—and each other’s work—deciding they’d like to show their work together.
The first 404FoundATL collective group show, “Dreamscapes,” featured its founders: Kat Stockton, Daniel Curran, Brittany Curran, and Larry Holland. Its second show, “Dreamscapes: Into the Veil” included 50 artists and made it clear that the community could support something larger.
Which brings us to “Dreamscapes: Cosmosis,” a group exhibition opening Jan. 10 at Binder’s Limelight Gallery in Buckhead. The show features work by more than 70 Atlanta artists and runs through Jan. 31. For 404FoundATL, the exhibition reflects an expanded commitment to access, collaboration, and shared visibility within Atlanta’s art community.
Access without gatekeeping
“Working outside of traditional gallery pipelines was never our original goal,” said Stockton. “What followed wasn’t a reaction against the system, but a realization that access doesn’t always require formal institutional approval.”
404FoundATL’s focus on local artists and community-centered exhibitions allowed it to move around barriers that still shape visibility in Atlanta, including reliance on representation, established networks, and formal validation. According to its founders, that shift emerged organically.
404FoundATL frequently works with artists early in their careers or outside establishedl systems. That approach stems from lived experience. None of the founding members are formally represented by galleries, and all have spent years participating in group shows, attending openings, and remaining deeply engaged in Atlanta’s art scene.
“The most important signal for us is interest and initiative,” said collective co-founder Daniel Curran. “An artist reaches out and expresses a desire to participate.”
One of the collective’s goals is to demystify the exhibition process by offering clear guidance, communication, and support throughout.
Rethinking group exhibitions economics
That philosophy extends to how “Dreamscapes: Cosmosis” is structured. Each piece featured is similarly sized and hung at the same level so that no single work visually outweighs another. Artist are not charged submission or hanging fees. Instead, the group takes a cut from work that sells to help offset production costs and venue rentals.
“If a sale happens, both the artist and the collective benefit,” Larry Holland, one of 404FoundATL’s founders, said. “If it doesn’t, the artist hasn’t lost anything financially.”
While shared passion and energy currently sustain 404FoundATL, Holland said long-term viability requires additional support. Much of the collective’s work—curatorial planning, artist communications, mentoring, installation, graphic design, etc.—is unpaid. The group regularly seeks grants, partnerships, and collaborations with institutions that share its values around access, equity, and community care.
For those who do not identify as collectors, the members of 404FoundATL emphasized that support still takes many forms. Attending exhibitions, engaging in conversation, sharing the work, and inviting others all help sustain Atlanta’s creative ecosystem.
“Presence, curiosity, and enthusiasm are just as valuable as purchases,” Brittany Curran, a 404FoundATL co-founder, said
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Looking ahead, the collective defines success as sustainability, connection, and continued access for Atlanta artists. That includes making space for emerging artists to gain confidence and visibility, for established artists to renew connection to community, and for audiences to feel welcomed into creative spaces without intimidation.
“Dreamscapes: Cosmosis” opens Jan. 10 with a free public reception from 4–8 p.m. at Binder’s Limelight Gallery.