NEW EXHIBITION Opening: The Art of being AANHPI
The Art of Being is a celebration of identity, presence, and the many ways we move through the world.
Curated by Hella Good Deeds, this exhibition is rooted in the belief that art has the power to affirm, uplift, and connect. The works on view celebrate individuality, resilience, joy, and expression, creating space for reflection as well as recognition. Together, they form a collective portrait of humanity in all its complexity and richness.
AANHPI Festival 2026
Join Hella Good Deeds and Café Cà Phê as we host our 5th Annual AANHPI Festival, THE ART OF BEING AANHPI at the gorgeous Zhou B Art Center where we'll celebrate the beautiful cultures of Asian Americans, South Asians, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders featuring: Kids Area full of cultural activities, music, food and more!
Second Fridays Open Studios
Second Fridays Open Studios at Zhou B Art Center KC invites the public to explore resident artist studios, connect directly with creators, and experience Kansas City’s vibrant art scene. Guests are encouraged to participate in the interactive Zhou Bingo Card by meeting artists throughout the building for a fun and engaging way to complete their visit. Free and open to the public every Second Friday from 5 to 8 PM.
Second Fridays Open Studios
Second Fridays Open Studios at Zhou B Art Center KC invites the public to explore resident artist studios, connect directly with creators, and experience Kansas City’s vibrant art scene. Guests are encouraged to participate in the interactive Zhou Bingo Card by meeting artists throughout the building for a fun and engaging way to complete their visit. Free and open to the public every Second Friday from 5 to 8 PM.
Gumbo Fest 2026
Join us for the 4th Annual Gumbo Fest, a celebration of community resilience and culinary excellence! Inspired by The Gumbo Coalition by Marc Morial, president of the National Urban League and former Mayor of New Orleans, this event brings together food lovers, local chefs, and businesses for a day of delicious gumbo, live music, and fun.
JUNETEENTH | Art Garden
Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States. Traditionally Juneteenth is known as a cultural event that celebrates the emancipation of slaves in America in 1865.
RedBull Dance Your Style
Let's celebrate and get ready for another incredible Red Bull Dance Your Style weekend in Kansas City!
In this kick-off party at the Zhou B Art Center, you'll witness local dancers battle it out for the final spots of the main event, while getting first access to Made Mobb's exclusive merch line reveal, drinks, bites and art installations.
Please note:
This RSVP is only valid for the Friday 04/24 programming at Zhou B. Art Center.
Til the End: Microwedding Edition
Free to Attend - RSVP Today. Throughout the evening, guests are encouraged to explore at their own pace. Pause for complimentary bites, gather at the bar for signature cocktails (available for purchase), and let music carry you through each room as the experience unfolds.
NEW EXHIBITION: INSPIRE! | Gordon Parks Elementary
INSPIRE! is an annual art exhibition and fundraiser that pays homage to the exemplary work and enduring values of our namesake, Gordon Parks. This event aims to create a platform for the community to engage and grow, providing a unique opportunity for fundraising. Through the showcase of artistic expressions, we aspire to inspire both our students and supporters, fostering a deep connection with the mission and vision of Gordon Parks Elementary. By celebrating art, community, and philanthropy, we aim to further cultivate a sense of shared purpose and commitment among our stakeholders, ensuring the continued support for the values championed by Gordon Parks.
Second Fridays Open Studios
Second Fridays Open Studios at Zhou B Art Center KC invites the public to explore resident artist studios, connect directly with creators, and experience Kansas City’s vibrant art scene. Guests are encouraged to participate in the interactive Zhou Bingo Card by meeting artists throughout the building for a fun and engaging way to complete their visit. Free and open to the public every Second Friday from 5 to 8 PM.
Reclaiming The Canvas | Closing Reception
Join us for the Closing Reception of Reclaiming the Canvas, presented by Mellow Soul Group in collaboration with Zhou B Art Center KC. This final celebration invites you to experience the exhibition one last time, connect with participating artists, and honor the powerful work of local Black creatives. Don’t miss this opportunity to engage with the art, the stories, and the community that brought this exhibition to life.
Palette: Zhou B's Catering + Events Showcase
Join us for the return of our Catering + Events Showcase: Palette, a curated event series designed to celebrate our space, our partners and explore new approaches to professional engagement.
The evening will feature contemporary art, live music, a curated menu of food + cocktails, and a chance to meet our artists with in an open house format.
ZaRiah Wind Quintet | The Friends of Chamber Music
Join us at Zhou B Art Center on Tuesday, March 10 from 6–8 PM for a special free community concert presented in partnership with the Friends of Chamber Music Kansas City. Enjoy a cocktail hour with a cash bar at 6 PM while exploring the galleries, followed by a performance at 7 PM by the dynamic ZaRiah Wind Quintet, an exciting emerging ensemble known for their engaging and interactive approach to chamber music. Come experience an evening where music, art, and community come together.
POP IS BLACK
POP IS BLACK is a live concert and special edition of the ROCK IS BLACK series, celebrating original, pop-influenced music by Black artists in Kansas City and beyond.
UPDATE: Lineup Has been Announced! Learn More Here!
Lunar New Year
Save the date! Join us for our annual Lunar New Year Night Market as we welcome the Year of the Horse. Exciting details coming soon!
Reclaiming the Canvas: “A Tribute to 100 years of Black History Month”
Save the date! Join us to celebrate 100 years of Black History Month! More details coming soon!
Exhibition Closing Reception: Celebration
Celebration has served as a vibrant reflection of the artistic community housed within the Zhou B Art Center KC, highlighting a wide range of creative voices and practices. The exhibition features an array of mediums, including painting, sculpture, installation, photography, and mixed media, offering audiences a dynamic and immersive experience of contemporary art in Kansas City.
ODDS & ENDS ART SALE
Discover one-of-a-kind treasures at the first-ever Odds & Ends Art Sale, happening Saturday, November 15 from 11 AM–5 PM at Zhou B Art Center KC. Browse original works, studies, and small pieces from 35+ professional artists — all priced to make collecting art more accessible. Explore open studios, meet the makers, and experience the creative heartbeat of Kansas City’s art community.
New Exhibition: ‘CELEBRATION’
In this year’s annual Resident Exhibition, Celebration, artists of the Zhou B Art Center Kansas City were invited to consider a simple yet profound question: What do you celebrate?
Opening Reception|New Exhibition: ‘CELEBRATION’
Experience Celebration, the annual Resident Group Exhibition at Zhou B Art Center KC, on view November 14, 2025 – January 24, 2026. This vibrant showcase highlights the creativity, collaboration, and community of our resident artists through painting, sculpture, photography, installation, and more. Free and open to the public, Tuesday–Saturday, 10 AM–5 PM.
HALLOWEEN FASHION SHOW
Join us for an extraordinary night of creativity, community, and Halloween magic at Kansas City Tonight’s Fourth Annual Halloween Fashion Show, happening Saturday, October 25th at the beautiful Zhou B Art Center KC (1801 E. 18th St., Kansas City, MO).
KC VINTAGE FLEA MARKET
We’re so excited to host the biggest market of the year right here at Zhou B Art Center KC, 1801 E 18th St, Kansas City, MO 64127 on Saturday, October 18th from 11 AM – 4 PM! For the first time, KC Vintage Flea is joining us in our space to bring you a one-day celebration of creativity, community, and all things vintage.
Halloween Prom
Have you ever wanted to relive your high school prom—but with a grown-up, artful, and slightly spooky twist? Zhou B Art Center KC, in collaboration with SpraySeeMo, invites you to an unforgettable night of creativity, music, and nostalgia on Friday, October 17, from 7 PM to 10 PM.
Hella Good Fridays! Open Studios + More
Join us for our monthly: Hella Good Friday! Enjoy First Friday with us and our community. We’ve got a lineup of amazing vendors, music, and especially art! You can bop through the building and meet a number of different artists when you browse their art studios
Luxe Autumn Fête & Concert By ARAJ
Join us for an exclusive Fall Fête. Mingle with the community while you meander through the stunning gallery and shop with your favorite vendors, while enjoying the delicious food and drinks available for sale. The Fête will be followed by a grandeur musical evening with ARAJ, an Indian neo-classical band.
Opening Reception: August 23rd - You Don't Want to Miss This
Join us on Opening Night for:
An engaging Artist Talk at 7 PM with Jas Petersen and Spencer Liautaud.
A lively reception from 8–11 PM featuring sounds by SHEPPA , and the chance to meet the featured artists
New Exhibition: All the Ways We Want
All the Ways We Want invites you to experience a meditation on the balance between strength and softness, beauty and truth, power and tenderness—offering a unique perspective on how we perform, protect, and present ourselves.
Queer Narratives Festival
The Queer Narratives Festival stands as Kansas City's premier celebration of LGBTQ+ artistry, offering an inclusive platform for both visual and performing artists to share their stories.
The festival spans eight weeks, featuring a diverse array of programming that includes visual art exhibitions, live performances, workshops, and community events. This year's main festival will take place on August 2nd, at Zhou B Art Center Kansas City.
Open Studios + Hella Good Fridays with Hella Good Deeds! (No First Friday for June and July)
OPEN STUDIOS! (No FF on June and Juy) Wander through the center’s vibrant halls, meet the talented artists who call this space home, and explore their working studios, music, activities and more!
Current Exhibition: Past Futures
Past Futures is an exhibition and performance showcase inviting queer artists to explore the cyclical nature of history and identity. As queer people, our experiences often echo across generations—through personal discovery, community-building, and cultural shifts. Whether through familial legacies, evolving social landscapes, or the rhythms of self-expression, we continuously re-imagine our futures by looking to our past.
We invite visual and performance artists to reflect on recurring experiences through history and these repeated cycles—how memory, resilience, and transformation shape queer narratives. What lessons do we carry forward? What histories do we reclaim? How does our past guide the future we create?
Opening Reception: NEW Exhibition: Past Futures
Past Futures is an exhibition and performance showcase inviting queer artists to explore the cyclical nature of history and identity. As queer people, our experiences often echo across generations—through personal discovery, community-building, and cultural shifts. Whether through familial legacies, evolving social landscapes, or the rhythms of self-expression, we continuously re-imagine our futures by looking to our past
New Exhibition: Art of Being Asian + 5th Annual Festival
HELLA GOOD DEEDS PRESENTS: "THE THREE TEMPLES"
An Immersive Art Experience Honoring Ancestors, Uplifting Descendants, and Uniting Community
Gordan Parks: INSPIRE!
INSPIRE! is an annual art exhibition and fundraiser that pays homage to the exemplary work and enduring values of our namesake, Gordon Parks. This event aims to create a platform for the community to engage and grow, providing a unique opportunity for fundraising. Through the showcase of artistic expressions, we aspire to inspire both our students and supporters, fostering a deep connection with the mission and vision of Gordon Parks Elementary. By celebrating art, community, and philanthropy, we aim to further cultivate a sense of shared purpose and commitment among our stakeholders, ensuring the continued support for the values championed by Gordon Parks.
BAM: Spring Recital
Base Academy of Music Spring Recital
Come celebrate the students of Base Academy of Music as they perform for the community and demonstrate how they have leaned and grown through music. Students ranging in ages from 6-18 will perform will individually perform a song on their instrument. The songs and styles the students choose to perform come in a variety of genres you can always expect a BAM recital to be fun and full of joy.
Hella Good Fridays! Open Studios + More
Join us for our monthly: Hella Good Friday! Enjoy First Friday with us and our community. We’ve got a lineup of amazing vendors, music, and especially art! You can bop through the building and meet a number of different artists when you browse their art studios
Jazz Voices: Her Song, Her Story
Zhou B Art Center KC & the American Jazz Museum present a night of song and story celebrating these KC Women in Jazz and their musical journeys! Featuring vocalists Millie Edwards Nottingham, Lisa Henry, and Lori Tucker. Moderated by Vanessa Thomas.
Admission: Free w/registration.