Phillips Taps Cj Hendry for Dropshop Launch
On August 20, auction house Phillips launched Dropshop, an artist-focused digital platform championing connection, innovation, and collaboration. For its inaugural “drop,” Phillips joined forces with Australian artist Cj Hendry, whose latest sculpture series, titled Crown, is a majestic ode to courage and self-actualization.
Pushing the boundaries of a classic international auction house, Dropshop by Phillips utilizes a dramatic new primary market model, joining forces with creatives for the entire process, from ideation, to production, to promotion, and allowing them to finally receive resale royalty commissions on future sales of their limited-edition works. Phillips’s exclusive partnerships with cutting-edge visionaries transforms the art of collecting, offering scheduled, limited-time drops directly on the platform where artists and brands can unite with a worldwide audience.
Photo by CJ Hendry Studio, courtesy of the artist.
“Created in response to the generational shift of contemporary artists taking a more active role in self- representation, Phillips’s Dropshop is truly groundbreaking,” explained its new Retail Sales Director of Ecommerce, Christine Miele. “These regular ‘takeovers’ are designed to create a dedicated space for artists to directly engage with Phillips’ global collecting community, amplifying their own voice in a personal and impactful way. As we embark on this venture, we look forward to presenting a culturally diverse range of artists, spanning both emerging and blue-chip names. With Cj Hendry’s vibrant and captivating artworks resonating with people across the globe, we are thrilled to partner with her as we launch Dropshop.”
Photo by CJ Hendry Studio, courtesy of the artist.
On Dropshop, the Hyper Realistic Works of Cj Hendry
Often experimenting with contemporary material culture in playful and captivating ways, Hendry’s large-scale, hyper-photorealistic drawings and immersive exhibitions challenge our perceptions and expectations. Her Monochrome presentation invited visitors into a riveting, monochrome-colored home within a warehouse, while Rorschach joyfully beckoned guests through a large-scale bouncy house, culminating in a dynamic art show. With Crown, Hendry created a sweeping drawing, as well as 100 bronze crowns in cherry red, which could be mistaken for luminous inflatables—a witty and deft exploration of royalty and democratization.
Installation view of CJ Hendry’s “Crown” series, photo by Kelly Ryserson, courtesy of the artist and Phillips.
Dropshop and CJ Hendry Host Willy Wonka Golden Ticket Hunt
On August 19 in New York, Phillips hosted a fantastical treasure hunt at its Park Avenue headquarters. Echoing Willy Wonka’s storybook hunt for the “golden ticket,” Phillips invited guests to journey though 50,000 inflatable crowns for those specially-marked; winners ceremoniously received a signed and numbered bronze crown.
With a zero waste policy at the heart of her practice, the artist will reuse all leftover pieces from the event for future exhibitions. “I am an artist of sorts, an impresario masquerading as an artist,” said Hendry. “In the early days my practice was intensely linear, built solely on drawing, with mechanical draftsmanship being my focus. Over the years my hunger to build concepts bigger than a sheet of paper began to develop. I’ve come to exist within a gray area where I juggle curiosity, 2D, 3D, reality and fantasy.”
Installation view of CJ Hendry’s “Crown” series, photo by Kelly Ryserson, courtesy of the artist and Phillips.
