If you haven’t driven through the 18th and Vine District recently, you’d hardly recognize it now. Project after project has flooded in, sparking a renaissance — and the Zhou bros are some of the latest developers to grab hold of the vision.

ICYMI — the internationally renowned artist duo recently restored the vacant Crispus Attucks school to its former glory, repurposing it into an art gallery + event center with 45 artist studios and lots of free parking. Zhou B. Art Center Kansas City is one of the only art centers in the metro that is built for artists, by artists.

The Crispus Attucks school in 1940 vs. the entrance today. | Photos by of Zhou B. Art Center KC, KCPL Missouri Valley Special Collections

"I absolutely love the way they promote us. They get people from all over the country to come and see us. It's more exposure than I've ever dreamed of," artist Phyllis Jenkins said.

The KC center is the Zhou brothers' first outside of Chicago. They said, after touring our city, it was obvious this was the place to be.

"We felt Kansas City was the right fit, right need. Because the Zhou B. Art Center is not only the center for art, it's the center for life, center for the people. It's the center for the future," ShanZuo Zhou said.

Editor Charm and junior editor Dewey chatting with some of the resident artists. | Photo by Zhou B. Art Center KC

The future they envision? One where all the pockets of art converge to form one mighty artistic metro.

"It's a matter of looking at Kansas City's art community as a whole rather than subdivisions," Art Director Izzy Vivas said. "We have this great space and this great platform to provide for artists and create a collaborative space that will bridge those gaps."

If you want to see the center for yourself, stop by Tuesdays-Saturdays, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Pro tip: We recommend popping in on First Fridays, so you can see the resident artists while sipping wine.