This spring, acclaimed artist Cj Hendry is launching her latest art exhibition, “Keff Joons,” inspired by Jeff Koons and his iconic animal balloons. Hendry’s unrivaled sense of humor, playfulness, and juxtaposition characterize this adaptation, aiming to challenge viewers’ perceptions of space and volume through this ubiquitous object. True to her signature style, the exhibition encourages visitors to interact with their surroundings, exploring how movement, placement, and materials can transform both physical and internal spaces.
Hendry’s insightful reflections on balloons reveal their emotional weight, encapsulating feelings of joy, nostalgia, and fragility. “Balloons are so simple, yet they carry this enormous emotional weight—joy, nostalgia, fragility,” Hendry says. She admires their ability to float gracefully, acknowledging the precariousness of their existence, as they can pop at any moment. “Keff Joons is my tongue-in-cheek nod at that balance between lightness and impermanence through the lens of Jeff Koons’ incredible balloon sculptures,” she adds. While Koons has elevated the balloon animal into an art icon, Hendry embraces absurdity by creating balloon “knots” that defy traditional structure and form.
The exhibition, running from April 11 to 20, 2025, in 50 Gold St, Brooklyn (Dumbo), New York, USA, features 50 massive, interactive sculptures that are bold, playful, and impossible to ignore, with a singular original centerpiece sculpture anchoring the display. Attendees will be able to purchase a variety of items, although many original pieces have already sold out, including eight medium drawings, one large drawing, and one sculpture. Limited editions of 10 pieces, each with 100 available, will also be for sale. The cheeky collection of merchandise includes t-shirts, baseball caps, balloon packs with pumps, enamel pins, magnets, coloring books, and silk scarves, ensuring there’s something for everyone.
Cj Hendry was born in 1988 in Brisbane, Australia, and is now a New York-based artist known for her large-scale, hyper-photorealistic drawings. Hendry transforms her fascination with contemporary material culture into immersive experiences, creating environments that provoke thought and engagement. Her exhibitions have consistently drawn massive crowds; for example, in her 2023 exhibition titled Epilogue, guests were invited into a reimagined 1830s Georgian church, which was blanketed in falling white petals for ten consecutive days. In Public Pool (2024), visitors journeyed into the Las Vegas desert to enjoy a temporary Olympic-sized swimming pool, complete with lounge chairs and pool floaties.
Each exhibit draws visitors from around the world, with attendees often waiting in line for hours to experience the unique magic Hendry creates. Her popularity has attracted celebrity collectors, resulting in a waitlist of over 3,000 collectors, with a remarkable wait time of up to five years for those eager to acquire a piece of her work. As Hendry continues to push the boundaries of contemporary art, “Keff Joons” promises to be another unforgettable exploration of creativity and interaction.
Photo credits: The photographs are the property of the gallery.
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