Draft:I-Chao Chu

I-Chao Chu (1911-1987) was a Chinese-born fine artist who lived and worked in China, Taiwan, and the United States over the course of his lifetime. He studied at the Peking Art Academy.

Born in Shandong Province, China in 1911, Chu's youth and young adulthood overlapped with a transitional political period in Chinese history, from the founding of the Republic of China in 1911 to the Warlord Era and eventually the Sino-Japanese War. Through this period, his family moved to different areas of China including Shandong and Gansu province before eventually emigrating to Taiwan. He and his wife moved to the United States in 1972 to join family living in the New Jersey/New York area. There, he continued to paint as well as teaching at Seton Hall University.

I-Chao Chu's watercolors touched upon both traditional themes depicting nature and landscapes, as well as more abstract compositions featuring the varied colors and textures. He was also an accomplished calligrapher. I-Chao Chu held one-man shows at Columbia University, Seton Hall University, and the China Institute among others.