Cj Hendry’s “Keff Joons” Pokes Fun at High Art with a Balloon-Filled Brooklyn Playground
Source: Cj Hendry
Reported By: Matthew Kennedy
CJ Hendry’s “Keff Joons” Exhibition in Brooklyn: A Satirical Ode to Pop Art’s Balloon King
Cj Hendry is back—and this time, she’s got jokes. The hyperrealist provocateur, known for her tongue-in-cheek approach to art and mastery of colored pencil and ink, has unveiled Keff Joons, a riotous new exhibition running April 11–20, 2025, in Brooklyn. Equal parts homage and mischief, Keff Joons draws direct inspiration from Jeff Koons’ legendary balloon sculptures—reimagined through Hendry’s irreverent lens as towering balloon knots, distorted proportions, and interactive whimsy.
Taking over a sprawling warehouse at 50 Gold Street in Dumbo, Hendry’s latest installation features 50 massive sculptures, each one exaggerated to the point of absurdity. Think balloon animals after a particularly chaotic party—bent, overinflated, or unraveling entirely. The exhibition’s physicality is central to the experience; visitors are invited to interact with the pieces, walk between them, and consider the way something so light and joyful can take up so much space—both literally and emotionally.
“Balloons are so simple, yet they carry this enormous emotional weight—joy, nostalgia, fragility. Keff Joons is my tongue-in-cheek nod at that balance between lightness and impermanence through the lens of Jeff Koons’ incredible balloon sculptures… I’m leaving the real art to the professionals!”
Cj Hendry
In true Hendry fashion, the gallery is more than an art show—it’s a retail playground. Though her original drawings and centerpiece sculpture sold out immediately, visitors can still shop limited-edition prints (100 of each) and an offbeat collection of merchandise that ranges from silk scarves and coloring books to baseball caps and enamel pins. There are even balloon packs with pumps for those who want to take the absurdity home with them.
The title Keff Joons itself reads like a prank—her playful way of flipping the reverent into the ridiculous. And yet, behind the satire, there’s a layer of substance. As visitors wander the exhibit, stepping between glossy orbs and tangled inflatables, it becomes clear that Hendry isn’t just parodying Koons—she’s extending the conversation. What happens when you make pop art even more ridiculous? What’s the tipping point between satire and sincerity?
Exhibition Details:
Dates: April 11–20, 2025
Hours: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Location: 50 Gold St, Brooklyn, NY (Dumbo)
Admission: Free and open to the public
Merch & Editions: Available on-site
For New Yorkers and art enthusiasts alike, Keff Joons is a must-see this spring—a cheeky, oversized invitation to laugh, reflect, and yes, maybe even pop a balloon or two.
About Cj Hendry:
Cj Hendry (b. 1988) is a New York-based artist originally from Brisbane, Australia. Hendry transforms her fascination with contemporary material culture into large-scale, hyper-photorealistic drawings. Cj Hendry’s exhibits are intended to be actively experienced through the engaging, and thought-provoking environments she constructs. For her 2023 exhibition Epilogue, guests were welcomed into a reimagined 1830s Georgian church that was blanketed in falling white petals for ten straight days. At Public Pool (2024), visitors traveled hours into the Las Vegas desert to dip into a temporary Olympic-sized swimming pool, complete with lounge chairs and pool floaties. Each Cj Hendry exhibit, from Miami to Melbourne, draws massive crowds, with attendees sometimes waiting in line for several hours to experience the magic within. Celebrity clientele and avid private collectors mean Hendry’s waitlist is now well over 3,000 collectors deep, with a wait time of up to five years to get their hands on a piece.