CJ HENDRY’S BALLOON UPRISING

 

In the post-ironic playground of today’s contemporary art scene, CJ Hendry knows exactly how to land a punch—in this case, a soft, inflatable one. Her latest exhibition, Keff Joons, held at 50 Gold Street in Brooklyn’s Dumbo neighborhood, takes the cult of the balloon animal and gleefully unties it. Inspired by Jeff Koons’ glossy symbols of consumerist whimsy, Hendry offers her own absurdist twist, turning high-gloss kitsch into a lopsided celebration of chaos and play.

Fifty massive balloon-like sculptures filled the industrial space, anchored by a hilariously serious centerpiece. These aren’t the polished poodles of Koons’ making—they’re misshapen, deflated, knotted caricatures, seemingly in revolt against their own pop status. “While Jeff has transformed the balloon animal into an icon of art,” Hendry says, “I’ve cobbled together these balloon ‘knots’ that forgo structure and form and are totally ridiculous.” The result is part homage, part parody, and unmistakably Hendry: obsessive in execution, delightfully unrefined in spirit.

True to form, Hendry’s sense of play extended beyond the sculpture. Though her original drawings and centerpiece sculpture sold out instantly—no surprise for an artist with a 3,000-strong waitlist and a five-year lead time—visitors could still take home limited editions and cheeky merch ranging from balloon packs and coloring books to enamel pins and silk scarves. As with all of Hendry’s work, Keff Joons was both a serious statement and a joyful experience.

Originally from Brisbane and now based in New York, CJ Hendry has become known for turning the white cube on its head—transforming exhibitions into full sensory events. From petal-filled churches to Olympic-sized pools in the desert, she stages art like theatre, with an uncanny knack for tapping into collective nostalgia, humor, and desire. Keff Joons carried that torch forward, inviting us to step into a world where permanence is overrated, precision is overrated, and fun reigns supreme.

In a market where balloon animals fetch millions, Hendry’s tangled take is a breath of fresh air: no pedestal required, just curiosity—and maybe a laugh. For those lucky enough to experience it, Keff Joons was a reminder that the best art doesn’t just hang—it floats, flails, and pops with life.

Discover more at cjhendrystudio.com.

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