This August, artist Cj Hendry will present her third collaboration with Dropshop: Mere Mortals. This a playful and nostalgic exhibition at Phillips New York is inspired by the imaginative world of trading cards and childhood toys.
For Cj Hendry, the concept began at home, watching her children trade cards with friends, alongside the wonderfully strange toy creations that have long captured her imagination. Bringing her signature sense of humor and whimsy to the idea, Cj has created a cast of unexpected characters made from a mix of familiar forms and mismatched parts — a world of 52 original characters brought to life as collectible trading cards.
Complete with claw machines and collectible surprises, the exhibition invites visitors to play, explore, and reconnect with the excitement of childhood in a hands-on, engaging environment. At the exhibition, visitors will receive two free tokens to play the claw machines to try their hand at winning Mere Mortals playing cards.
Trading cards and merchandise will be available for purchase on-site at Phillips New York from August 28–30 from 10 am to 6 pm. Prints and editions will be released online at cjhendrystudio.com beginning August 30 at 7:00 pm ET. Merchandise will include trading cards featuring 52 original characters, along with t-shirts, caps, pins, stickers, bags and patches.
Cj Hendry (b. 1988) is a New York-based artist from Brisbane, Australia, known for her hyper-realistic drawings and immersive, experiential exhibitions. Her earliest mature investigations began in 2013 where she focused on rendering luxury products in black and white ink. Around 2018 she introduced color into her working practice which opened up her world and her practice expanded to include more conceptual pursuits.
Her work explores material culture and transforms everyday objects into playful, thought-provoking installations—from an Olympic-sized pool in the Mojave Desert to a bustling flower market in Brooklyn. With celebrity collectors, sold-out shows worldwide, and a waitlist of over 3,000, Hendry has become one of the most sought-after artists working today.
Hendry’s cheeky affability is followed closely by her adoring fans through her Instagram @cj_hendry where she documents her projects from concept to reality.
Images and copy courtesy of the artist.
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