About
Dr. Eros Zhao (赵硕) is an award-winning artist, director, producer, and art collector. His creative journey began with formal training in Chinese painting at the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing, China. He later earned an MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Additionally, he holds an MA in Chinese Art History from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a PhD in Art Administration from Taiwan Shih-Chien University.
Dr. Zhao has served as a faculty member at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where he taught the course Oriental Painting Methods. In 2018, he curated the special exhibition at the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, Traces of the Past and Future: Fu Shen's Paintings and Calligraphy.
In recent years, Dr. Zhao has gained distinction as a documentary director and producer, collaborating with major museums and cultural institutions worldwide to create art-focused films. His projects have featured renowned organizations such as the Smithsonian Institution, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, The Met, MFA Boston, the Denver Art Museum, Steinway & Sons Piano, the Magic Castle of Hollywood, among others.
His work has received critical acclaim; notably, his Oscar-qualified documentary short film, AMAM|HOPE, won Best Short Documentary at the 2025 Bali International Film Festival, and four Telly Awards in 2026, inculuding General-Film & Shorts People's Telly Gold; General-Social Impact Gold; Craft-Directing Gold and General-Documentary Silver awards. He also received a nomination for Best Documentary Short at the 2024 Austin Film Festival for his film The Action Man, alongside multiple awards from other prestigious international festivals. Beyond filmmaking, he has produced classical and film music concerts across the globe, bridging the worlds of visual and performing arts. In 2026, he served as a juror at the 19th Bali International Film Festival for the Oscar-qualified categories of Best Documentary Short and Best Animation Short.
As an art collector and scholar, Dr. Zhao specializes in Chinese painting and calligraphy. He translated his mentor Dr. Fu Shen’s seminal research publication, Studies in Connoisseurship into Chinese, marking its first publication in China. His personal collection includes early Chinese bronzes, Buddhist art, and lacquer art, reflecting his expertise and passion for cultural preservation.
In 2024, Dr. Zhao co-founded the JKEZ Foundation with Dr. Jeff Kryka and established a Legacy Scholarship at the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music.
In 2025, Dr. Zhao assumed the role as CEO of the JAVCA Foundation. With this position, he supports a wide array of programs in the arts and music, including initiatives such as the Commission of the National Museum of Asian Pacific American History and Culture, the UCLA Center for Chinese Studies, the Denver Art Museum, and other academic pursuits.
