For 23 years, Jeff Zhou has run Art Studio 23 in Montgomery, dedicated to “coloring” the lives of his students. Since its founding in 2002, the studio has taught hundreds of artists, offering lessons for students from fourth grade and beyond.
Art Studio 23 began after years of art-lesson requests from Zhou’s friends. Charging only $5, he started offering weekly Friday night art classes in his basement after busy weekdays in his garment import-export company Alston Taylor USA, Inc at Manhattan’s Fashion Ave.
“We started with five students who all were family friends. We didn’t focus on it as a business. It was pure friendship. The good news was, in those five first students, 2 went to Princeton, 1 was accepted by NYU Stern School of Business, 1 Penn State, 1 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign!” said Zhou.
Over time, as demand grew, the studio expanded, eventually relocating to its current space in 2018. Despite this growth, Zhou’s teaching philosophy has remained unchanged. When students first join the studio, they begin with the fundamentals of drawing skills, focusing on graphite-based still-life drawing and animal drawing. As they progress, they are introduced to a wide range of mediums, including, watercolor, gouache, oil painting, abstract painting, and industrial design.
“I used to be scared of experimenting with different styles of art. But after I took my first few lessons with Jeff, I felt like he had an inspirational passion that really opened my perspectives and helped me become more confident” said Emily Tang, one of Zhou’s grade-seven students.
Drawing from his experience as a college teacher at Shanghai Textile Engineering Institute (now Shanghai Donghua University) and Teaching Assistant in the College of Design at Iowa State University, Zhou designs lesson plans for each student with the goal of bringing out their individual artistic styles.
“[Being] a college teacher gave me lots of chances to understand education. It’s very important to teach students to start [by] focusing on shapes, values, and colors,” said Zhou. “When you see a student’s characteristics, you try to encourage them. When you say they’re good at something, they must be really good.”
Each year, dozens of Art Studio 23’s students receive regional and national recognition from the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. Many of Zhou’s students have also gone on to pursue art professionally at institutions such as Parsons School of Design and The Rhode Island School of Design, a reflection of Zhou’s dedication to his students’ growth.
“He supports my passions and gives great advice, whether it be artistic feedback or simply life lessons,” said Amy Lin, one of Zhou’s grade-eleven students.
Zhou hosts an end-of-the-year gathering with his adult-class students.
In 2014, after noticing a lack of organizations supporting young artists in New Jersey, Zhou established New Jersey Young Artist Association (NJYAA), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the development of artists in New Jersey and to using art to give back to the community.
“I thought, well, we can help students and young artists build their love [for] society and benefit society. How can they use their talents?” said Zhou.
Through initiatives like the annual “Spreading Joy with Art” Holiday Card Event at the Montgomery Senior Center, NJYAA encourages young artists to use their creativity for a greater good.
“NJYAA has helped me realize the potential of art in bringing people together. We all work for the common cause of helping others and bringing a smile to their faces,” said Lin, who has been a part of NJYAA since middle school. “Jeff has been incredibly encouraging, and I appreciate his hands-off approach with NJYAA—it has allowed the members to be self-driven and learn essential skills surrounding leadership and responsibility.”
NJYAA members host art-making event at Montgomery Senior Center.
Zhou’s dedication to encouraging young artists is rooted in own passion for art beginning at a young age. Growing up in Shanghai, he enjoyed sketching the bustling streetlife while his parents ran errands, often capturing passing trolley buses and trains.
At age 16, following his father’s sudden death, Zhou left high school to work for Shanghai Base Sheet Print Manufacturing, a local textile factory, becoming its youngest employee. After designing a wall mural for the company, Zhou’s artistic talent was quickly noticed by the company manager, leading to his promotion as a designer-in-training.
“As I learned more and more, I saw that I needed more professional training. I went to lots of art studios in Shanghai… and I [had] very good teachers over there,” said Zhou.
Determined to further his education, Zhou attended the Shanghai Textile Engineering Institute (now Donghua University), earning a diploma in Arts & Design in 1984 and was kept as an art instructor after graduation. He later pursued a Post-graduate Diploma in the Central Academy of Arts & Design (now Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University) in 1987. After immigrating to the United States, he pursued a Master of Arts Degree from Iowa State University, where he gained valuable insights from his professors Priscilla Sage and Professor John Cunnally in History of Modern Art.
FAMILY VALUE: Gratefulness of The Glory, 2021. Painted and arranged by Zhou and his son.
Outside of his work with Art Studio 23 and NJYAA, Zhou enjoys abstract painting. Taking inspiration from designers such as Calvin Kelin, Ralph Lauren, Dior, and Chanel, Zhou launched CaPantzzi in 2012, a clothing brand specializing in golf outfits and handbags. No matter the medium, art remains a constant source of fulfillment for Zhou.
“Life is always tough. It could be low. It could be up-and-down. But art will never cheat on you—so put your heart into it,” said Zhou. “That’s the reason we also started an adult painting class a year ago, to continue spreading happiness through art.”
