The Story Of Chicagos Zhou B Art Center

In 2004, Shan Zou Zhou, with the help of his brother Da Huang and son Michael, opened an art center for the residents of the Chicago neighborhood of Bridgeport. This art center, located between the Aberdeen and Morgan Avenues of 35th Street, gives an inside look to art movements inspired by ancient Chinese cave drawings, exile, and hope. 12 years later, Zhou B is the go-to place for introducing new artists to the Chicago area.

Chinese Cultural Revolution

Two years after their father was forced to leave Shan Zou and Da Huang, the Cultural Revolution of 1966 brought hardship to the Zhou brothers and their families. Hoping to make matters easier for everyone involved, the brothers separated from the family and each other to strengthen their art with China’s overwhelming sources of inspiration. Seven years later, the brothers came back together and began working as collaborative artists.

The first piece of art that they created as a team was titled “The Wave”. They painted this oil painting on paper in 1973. The small boat that the waves are challenging represents Shan Zou and Da Huang, and the boat they can’t control represents the difficult life they couldn’t grip onto at the time. However, the small amount of light and clarity on the far right-center gives them hope for the future.

During the next 13 years, the Zhou Brothers continued to create art as a team. They were also recruited to create solo projects as art directors in museum exhibitions. In 1985, they were awarded the National Prize of the Chinese Avant-Garde of the Ministry of Culture as well as the Prize for Creativity by the Peace Corps of the United Nations in Beijing.

Legacy Grows in Bridgeport

In 1986, the Zhou brothers settled in the Bridgeport area of Chicago. During this transition, they continued to showcase their art both nationally and internationally. Eventually, their art center was born and quickly turned into the go-to place for inspiration. After opening their art center in 2004, the brothers were awarded the Lincoln Award at the Lincoln Academy in Illinois two years later. They were also invited to the White House in 2011, where President Obama and President Hu Jintao of China gave them recognition for their hard work.
by Alexandria Ramirez

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.