The Australian artist behind some of the art world’s most Instagrammed hyperrealistic drawings has opened her first permanent Asian flagship in Hong Kong, transforming a temporary Art Basel installation into a year-round destination. CJ Hendry’s Flower Shop, located at 15 Aberdeen Street in Central, debuted in early 2025 after a sold-out pop-up during Art Basel Hong Kong drew thousands of visitors. The multi-level venue blends exhibition space, retail boutique and interactive art environment, giving collectors and casual visitors alike a chance to step inside Hendry’s playful, larger-than-life universe.
From Pop-Up to Permanent: The Concept Behind the Shop
Hendry first introduced the Flower Shop concept through a series of temporary installations that quickly gained global attention for their immersive, photogenic designs. The Hong Kong flagship — her first permanent location in Asia — occupies an entire multi-storey building in one of the city’s most vibrant arts corridors, within walking distance of the Central–Mid-Levels Escalator, PMQ and Tai Kwun. Unlike her earlier pop-ups, the new space offers substantially more square footage, allowing for rotating seasonal displays and exclusive product drops throughout the year.
What Visitors Will Find Inside
Each floor of the flagship presents a different experience, with giant floral sculptures, plush flower toys and interactive displays that blur the line between gallery and concept store. The atmosphere is intentionally playful: oversized blooms tower over visitors, while colourful soft sculptures invite touch and photography. Hendry has designed the space as an extension of her artistic identity, where the boundary between viewing and purchasing is deliberately softened.
The shop also features a curated selection of limited-edition merchandise available only in Hong Kong, including collectible plush flowers, signed prints and other exclusive items. One of the most popular offerings allows customers to buy individual blooms from the permanent installation, building their own custom bouquet of collectible art rather than leaving with a standard souvenir.
Why Central Became the Home for Hendry’s Vision
Hendry’s decision to plant roots in Hong Kong follows the overwhelming response to her Flower Market installation during Art Basel Hong Kong, which sold out rapidly and attracted long queues. Rather than staging another temporary event, the artist chose to establish a long-term presence in Central, a neighbourhood that has become a hub for contemporary art. The move also underscores Hong Kong’s rising status as one of Asia’s premier destinations for international artists, with a growing network of galleries, museums and creative spaces reshaping the city’s cultural identity.
Practical Tips for Visiting
Weekday mornings offer the quietest experience, while weekends and product-launch days are expected to draw larger crowds — especially among collectors seeking limited releases. Visitors should allow at least 30 to 60 minutes to explore the building, though many stay longer when new installations debut. The space is designed for repeat visits, with seasonal updates ensuring that no two trips look identical.
Broader Impact: What the Flagship Means for Art Retail
Hendry’s Flower Shop represents a growing trend in the art world: the convergence of exhibition, commerce and immersive experience. By creating a permanent space that functions simultaneously as a gallery, a shop and an interactive attraction, the artist is challenging traditional models of art consumption. For visitors unfamiliar with Hendry’s hyperrealistic drawings, the flagship offers an accessible entry point. For seasoned collectors, it provides a rare opportunity to acquire exclusive works in a setting that feels more like a playground than a showroom. As Hong Kong continues to court international art audiences, destinations like the Flower Shop are likely to become fixtures in the city’s cultural itinerary — proving that art, even when it’s for sale, can still feel like pure discovery.