You Should See CJ Hendry's New Crown Series
The release will coincide with the debut of Phillips’ digital platform, “Dropshop.”
Auction house Phillips recently unveiled Dropshop, a digital platform that collaborates with artists, collaborators and contemporary culture brands to offer exclusive limited-edition art releases. The initiative aims to disrupt the traditional dynamics between primary and secondary markets, making it a pioneering venture in the international auction sphere.
To mark its launch, Dropshop will showcase the anticipated debut of Australian hyperrealist CJ Hendry’s Crown series. Known for intertwining curiosity, 2D, 3D, reality and fantasy in her work, this collection features one hundred bronze crowns and a large-scale drawing.
The limited editions available on Dropshop will remain exclusively accessible for a limited time through a convenient “Buy now” model on Phillips’ website. Once these pieces are sold out, they won’t be restocked, amplifying the platform’s allure of exclusivity and rarity.
CJ Hendry told Hypebae: “I’ve been making art for about the last ten years or so; it all started as a hobby and I was actually pretty good at it, so I kept doing it. I have a great team. I work really hard and my pieces take a lot of time to complete—it might work out or it might not. Not all of my work and ideas are exceptional, though some are and I’ve been doing big exhibitions, which are pretty cool.”
She continued: “Now, I’m in with the big boys too; collaborating with Phillips for their first-ever ‘Dropshop’ edition and flattered to be the first artist for this. The theme of the drop is Crowns and I’m thrilled to show my work, plus share it with a special treasure hunt worth 1 MILLION DOLLARS! Ha! After everything, if this art thing doesn’t work out for me, I might shake life up and go back to university to finish my degree.”
The physical launch event on August 19 promises an in-person treasure hunt at 432 Park Avenue, where thousands of inflatable plastic crowns will create an interactive and immersive art experience. The artist will ensure that any leftover plastic crowns will be recycled for use in upcoming exhibitions, reflecting her environmental consciousness.
Dropshop’s official launch is on August 20, with CJ Hendry’s Crown series becoming available at 10 am ET on the same day.
In other art and design news, Yu Nagaba unveils a contemporary, playful take on the classic bronze nude.
