HONG KONG — The Australian artist known for transforming galleries into immersive playgrounds has planted roots in Asia. CJ Hendry, celebrated for her hyperrealistic drawings and larger-than-life installations, has opened her first permanent flagship outside Australia at 15 Aberdeen Street in Central, giving Hong Kong a year-round destination for her wildly popular Flower Shop concept.
The multi-storey venue follows the overwhelming success of Hendry’s Flower Market installation during Art Basel Hong Kong, where thousands queued for hours to wander through a surreal landscape of oversized blooms. Rather than disappearing after a few weeks like her previous pop-ups in New York, Miami and Melbourne, this space is designed to endure—and evolve.
A New Model for Artistic Engagement
Hendry’s career has been defined by experiences that erase traditional lines between fine art, retail and shareable social media moments. Her Hong Kong flagship takes that approach further by making it permanent.
“The response during Art Basel showed that Hong Kong audiences embraced her playful vision,” said a representative for the artist. The city’s growing reputation as a contemporary art hub made it the natural choice for Hendry’s first long-term outpost.
Unlike conventional galleries that rotate exhibitions through white-walled rooms, the Flower Shop invites visitors to move through each floor as if stepping into a living artwork. Giant plush flowers, sculptural blooms and colorful installations fill every corner, encouraging interaction rather than passive observation.
Art That Leaves With You
The flagship integrates retail as part of the artistic experience rather than an afterthought. Visitors can purchase individual collectible flowers to build their own bouquets—a whimsical twist on the traditional florist that replaces fresh cuttings with keepsakes designed to last indefinitely.
Exclusive merchandise, limited-edition prints and seasonal releases created specifically for Hong Kong are available throughout the space. The shop expects to host special collaborations unavailable anywhere else, giving collectors reason to return regularly.
Photography is naturally woven into the visit, with nearly every angle offering a striking composition. Yet the space avoids feeling engineered solely for social media. Beneath the playful surface lies serious artistic practice rooted in Hendry’s ongoing exploration of consumer culture and the emotional connections people form with everyday objects.
Planning Your Visit
Weekday mornings offer the quietest experience for those hoping to explore without crowds. Weekends and new product launches draw significantly larger numbers, particularly among collectors chasing limited-edition drops.
Most visitors spend between 45 minutes and an hour moving through each floor, discovering details gradually as they navigate the immersive environment. The building’s location in one of Central’s most walkable neighborhoods makes it easy to combine with nearby attractions including PMQ, Tai Kwun and the area’s renowned café culture.
For first-time visitors unfamiliar with Hendry’s work, the flagship offers an accessible introduction to an artist whose installations challenge conventional ideas about what an exhibition can be. For longtime fans, it represents a rare opportunity to experience one of her most celebrated concepts in a permanent home.
As Hong Kong continues strengthening its position as a global arts destination, Hendry’s Flower Shop arrives as a colorful addition to the city’s cultural landscape—imaginative, welcoming and designed to leave visitors smiling long after they step back onto Aberdeen Street.