Zhou Brothers Sold at Auction Prices

b. 1952 -

ShanZuo Zhou was born in Nanning, Guangxi Province, China in 1952. DaHuang Zhou was born in Wuming, Guangxi Province, China in 1957. Collaborating since 1973, ShanZuo and DaHuang work together on their paintings, performances, sculptures, and prints, often communicating without words in a so-called dream dialogue. Renowned for their unique collaborative work process, the Zhou Brothers are considered one of the most accomplished contemporary Chinese artists in the world. Their thinking, aesthetic, and creativity are a symbiosis of Eastern and Western philosophy, art, and literature that informed their development since early childhood. Their indomitable spirit allowed them to leave behind their brilliant success in China, where they were hailed as national heroes for their early work, to step onto the world stage.

In 2000, Zhou Brothers performed a live painting performance for the opening of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. In 2004, aiming to facilitate and promote the convergence of Eastern and Western art forms, they founded the Zhou B Art Center in Chicago to provide galleries, studios, and collaborative creative environments for a thriving community of artists. In 2011, President Obama commissioned Zhou Brothers to create a painting that he presented to China’s president, Hu Jintao, in a private ceremony attended by them at the White House. With their unceasing contributions to the Chicago art community, in 2014, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn issued a proclamation declaring October 16, 2014, Zhou Brothers Day in Illinois.

ShanZuo and DaHuang attended Shanghai Theater Academy (1978-82) in Shanghai and National Academy for Arts and Crafts (1983-84) in Beijing. They became the most famous young painters of their generation in mainland China in the 1980s. In 1985 they were honored as the first contemporary artists ever to exhibit their work in an exhibition that traveled to the five largest museums in China, including the National Art Museum of China, Beijing (1985); Art Museum Shanghai, Shanghai (1985); Museum of Art, Nanjing (1985); Guilin Art Museum, Guilin (1985) and Guangxi Art Museum, Nanning (1984).

They received many awards, including Distinguished Artist Award, United Nations, New York (2008); Kunstpreis der Heitland Foundation, Celle (1996); National prize of the Chinese Avant-Garde of the Ministry of Culture, Beijing (1985) and Prize for Creativity, Peace Corps of the United Nations, Beijing (1985). Their works have appeared in major exhibitions at Guangxi Art Museum, Nanning (2014); Beijing 1+1 Art Centre, Beijing (2013); National Art Museum of China, Beijing (2007); Chicago Cultural Center and Elmhurst Art Museum (2004). They live and work in Chicago and Beijing.

'OUR LIFE IS A JOURNEY TO ART"