Meet Peijun Zhao | Co-Founder of SailUp Arts

We had the good fortune of connecting with Peijun Zhao and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Peijun, how does your business help the community?
At SailUp Arts, we collaborate with acclaimed contemporary artists as well as promising emerging talents from China, bringing their signature works to the U.S. for exhibition and sale to broaden cross-cultural dialogue and aesthetic diversity. In a U.S. market largely centered on modern abstraction, we spotlight both traditional and contemporary expressions of Chinese ink and related practices—valued for their restraint, balance, and deep connection to nature. Through rigorous selection and professional presentation, we offer communities a fresh lens on East Asian aesthetics, expand collectors’ choices and the public visual landscape, and create sustainable exposure and income opportunities for Chinese artists who remain underrepresented internationally. In doing so, we help build a more inclusive art ecosystem, foster mutual understanding, and let the beauty of different cultures be seen.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
At SailUp Arts, our core pursuit is to make East Asian art clear and tangible within a Western context so that genuine cross-cultural dialogue can happen. We focus on traditional Chinese ink and related practices, and we aim to use rigorous curation and storytelling to place works back into their historical and philosophical contexts, helping audiences bridge language and cultural gaps and reduce misconceptions.

What I’m most proud and excited about is the moment when someone moves from “I don’t get it” to “this resonates.” That moment isn’t just about understanding a work; it’s about two cultures getting closer. That’s the value we care about.

This journey hasn’t been easy, and it’s still tough. Earning a space where Chinese art is taken seriously amid noise and bias takes time, patience, and resources. We keep going because we believe authentic, high-quality work deserves to be seen—and because support from family, peers, and artists helps us move forward even in low moments.

We keep our standards steady by carefully curating and making sure all bilingual texts are accurate, natural, and consistent, so people can trust us. We also stay lean for the long run: we handle our own data, build and maintain the website in-house, and run social media steadily (e.g., Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube), putting limited time and budget where they matter most. At the same time, we actively seek partnerships—not only working closely with Chinese artists, but also building ties with U.S. galleries, exhibitions, and institutions—using joint projects and events to keep the dialogue going.

Over time, a few lessons have become clear: context is a bridge, and clear narratives help dissolve misunderstandings; quality compounds, and consistent standards earn long-term trust; patience is scarce, and market-building is a marathon; and data and feedback help us better serve both audiences and artists.

What we want people to know is that SailUp Arts is committed to showing a more truthful picture of Chinese art, especially its deep traditions and core spirit. At a time when Western understanding is still limited and often mistaken, we aim to be a steady bridge—presenting work with respect and professionalism so different cultures can see and understand each other’s beauty.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’m based in New York, so if a best friend visited for a week, I’d mix a few classics with local favorites: a Met morning and a Central Park stroll, a sunset view from Top of the Rock, and a Broadway night. We’d do Chinatown dumplings and Koreatown late-night, grab tacos at Chelsea Market after walking the High Line, and catch a jazz set in the Village. I’d add a Brooklyn afternoon—DUMBO waterfront and a Williamsburg rooftop—and one Queens food run in Flushing. Nothing too rigid: good art, a couple skyline moments, and plenty of great eats.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d like to dedicate this shoutout to my father. He’s a professional in the Chinese art field, and his deep love for Chinese art has profoundly inspired me. He has provided pivotal professional guidance to SailUp Arts—from art-historical context to curatorial rigor—and, through his extensive connections in China’s art community, helped us build crucial partnerships. His passion and expertise showed me the value and possibilities of this path and laid a solid foundation for SailUp Arts’ growth.

Website: https://www.sailuparts.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sailuparts/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peijun-zhao-98731121b/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/SailUp-Arts-61574767560949/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SailUpArts