Meet CJ Hendry, who builds pools in unexpected places

CJ Hendry enjoys capturing the simple pleasures of everyday life, whether in 2D or 3D. The New York-based artist is renowned for her hyper-realistic drawings that capture fleeting moments from daily life—from a wrinkled plastic bag to a Haribo gummy candy wrapper—rendering them with meticulous detail to achieve photographic quality on paper.

Her practice then extends further through large-scale installations, translating her artistic vision into immersive, tactile experiences. “I create art that invites people to touch, explore, and play—it has become fundamental to my practice,” she explains.

During her Hong Kong visit, CJ Hendry spoke with us about her sources of inspiration and why she decides to build swimming pools in the most unexpected places.

How did the concept of “Public Pool” come up in the first place? 

CJ Hendry: It actually started as a bit of a joke. 

I kept thinking, “What’s the most unexpected thing you could stumble upon in the middle of the desert?” A pool. But not a real one—a completely useless, inflatable one, filled with oversized flowers instead of water. Public Pool was born from that idea: uselessness with purpose, fun that makes you question function.

How does reimagining this piece for an indoor space, particularly within Hong Kong’s ifc mall, transform its dialogue with viewers?

CJ Hendry: It changes everything. When the exhibition was set in the desert, the installation was about escape, absurdity, and isolation—something totally out of place in nature. Now in ifc, it sparks a different conversation about contrast and surprise. You don’t expect a pool—or a giant slide—in a luxury retail space. The piece becomes a disruption of the norm, a break in the flow, something that invites people to pause, laugh, and maybe rethink their environment.

What new narratives or experiences were you hoping to create through this new set up?

CJ Hendry: The vertical inflatable flowers feel more alive—they sway, they wobble, they lean in like curious bystanders. The slide is pure mischief. This version is deliberately more communal, more unexpected. Rather than creating a visual moment, it invites interaction. Such active engagement creates memories, not just photos.

What draws you to inflatables as a medium, and what unique possibilities do they offer that other mediums don’t?

CJ Hendry: Inflatables are beautifully ridiculous. These vast, colourful, lightweight forms are temporary—like visual candy floating in space. They carry an inherent nostalgia, instantly connecting us to childhood, summers and pure joy. This emotional shortcut allows complex ideas to become remarkably accessible.

People really connect with your work because it feels so familiar yet transformed through your artistic lens. What inspires your style - any favourite artists, movies, or shows that influence how you see things?

CJ Hendry:Thank you! I love that description. My inspiration comes from the delicate boundary between absurdity and beauty. Drawing from pop culture and design, I create visuals to provoke that perfect "wait, what?" moment.

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