Cj Hendry's Pink Chairs come home to Queensland

They began as temporary art. 

Two ‘inflatable’ pink chairs suddenly appearing in New York parks, subways and sidewalks in 2024. Then they found their way to Venice. 

It was like they’d been blown off course from a backyard pool, appearing, Mary Poppins-like, in urban spaces.

Soft in appearance but created from hard recycled plastic, the Pink Chairs sparked both joy and hesitancy. Curious passers-by reclined, poked, and posed with the playful forms, igniting excitement on social media. 

This was exactly what Cj Hendry was hoping for. 

‘People usually approach the chairs with a bit of confusion,’ she said. 

‘They’re thrown off by the juxtaposition of material and setting.  

‘They’ll "kick the tyres" and realise it’s solid, not inflated – and then they really go for it. They sit, they climb, they look.’

Pink Chairs are part of Cj Hendry's Inflatable series. They explore weight and size by changing the idea of a light and temporary inflatable chair.  

Cj’s hyper-realistic approach to art highlights her fascination with materialism, transforming everyday items and high-end products into sought-after works of art. From living rooms to major art shows, her art always gets people talking.

This year Cj, who lives in New York but who grew up in Brisbane, decided the globetrotting chairs deserved a permanent home. 

‘I really wanted these chairs to have a home in Australia and State Library felt like the perfect long-term home.  

‘State Library holds a lot of great memories of being an independent young adult in Brisbane; I would meet friends for coffee at the cafe or wander along the Riverwalk.’

The chairs look soft but are made of brass and weigh a hefty 130 kg each. 

State Librarian and CEO Vicki McDonald AM said State Library was thrilled to give Cj’s vibrant Pink Chairs a permanent home in Queensland’s Cultural Centre. 

‘Cj was one of the most popular guests in our Game Changers conversation series, and we hold several of her works in our collection, including inflatable crowns, wigs, and card games. 

‘Collections such as this help document the extraordinary work of Queensland contemporary artists,’ Ms McDonald said. 

They also help honour the work of local artists who have established an international presence on the art scene. 

Cj Hendry's Pink Chairs were on installed on the front lawn at State Library of Queensland in August 2025. 

State Library already holds a range of Cj Hendry's art and merchandise in its collections which you can explore online.