Guests were invited to wander the Flower Market at FDR Four Freedoms State Park and “pick” a free plush flower keepsake
Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “Many eyes go through the meadow, but few see the flowers in it.” Contemporary artist Cj Hendry not only sees the flowers, but has designed a greenhouse filled with 100,000 plush flowers as her meadow, and invites us to meander.
Cj is thrilled to announce her exhibition Flower Market, a stunning new collaboration with global luxury beauty brand Clé de Peau Beauté and in partnership with Four Freedoms Park Conservancy. Known for creating art on a grand scale, Cj’s latest extraordinary exhibit is no different and features a 120-foot by 40-foot greenhouse built on the lawn of the FDR Four Freedoms State Park on Roosevelt Island. The greenhouse is filled with 100,000 meticulously crafted plush flowers inspired by the natural radiance and botanicals used in Clé de Peau Beauté products.
One significant botanical that inspired Cj was the Radiant Lily found in Clé de Peau Beauté’s The Serum, an iconic skincare product beloved by Cj. “The meticulous craftsmanship in CPB’s products really resonates with me and mirrors my own process” says Cj. The plush Lilies will be on display, alongside Cj’s 12 original drawings created for this exhibition. Among the other flowers on display are a bouquet inspired by the Roosevelt family; the yellow Eleanor Roosevelt Rose, Tulips for the Roosevelt family’s Dutch heritage, red Roses symbolizing the “Roosevelt” name (field of roses), and Peonies, the signature flower of the Roosevelt farm.
“When the architect Louis Kahn designed this memorial, he said, ‘The garden is somehow a personal kind of control of nature.’ A lot of my work, and in this exhibition especially, is about manipulating my environments and building a space that takes participants out of their ordinary. I hope Flower Market inspires joy and beauty well after the greenhouse is empty, every time we see flowers – plush or otherwise.”- Cj Hendry
Visitors were invited to explore the vibrant field of flowers and take one home with them. Those who could not experience Flower Market in person can explore a virtual flower market and personalise their own plush white Lily inspired by the Radiant Lily.
“I am thrilled to share this collaboration between Clé de Peau Beauté and Cj Hendry,” says Alessio Rossi, Executive Vice President Clé de Peau Beauté US Marketing.“This partnership embodies the essence of our brand, known for its intelligence, uncompromising standards, and exquisite quality. Cj Hendry’s remarkable ability to engage audiences through her masterful craftsmanship and thought-provoking social commentary on luxury perfectly resonates with our values.”
CEO of Four Freedoms Park Conservancy, Howard Axel, adds,“We were immediately excited to work with such an exceptional contemporary artist as Cj Hendry and help share her magical work with tens of thousands of visitors. She captures the vision of Louis Kahn and his design ‘to be a place of inspired use’ as she encourages visitors to see the park through her eyes!”
