Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams and artist Cj Hendry presented OPAQUE at 390 West Broadway from August 15 through August 17, 2025. The collaboration joined a jet-black ice cream made with black cocoa, espresso fudge, and balsamic cherry with a monochrome SoHo pop-up, black waffle cones, limited merchandise, and seven original Hendry works.
TheNakedNYC Coverage
YouTube: Inside the OPAQUE Pop-Up
Instagram: Jeni's and Cj Hendry in SoHo
Photo Gallery: OPAQUE by Jeni's and Cj Hendry
What to Know
One Word Set the Brief
Hendry's direction to Jeni's was simply black. The resulting collaboration used the absence of bright color to shift attention toward texture, aroma, temperature, and the differences among cocoa, coffee, and fruit.
Three Flavors Built OPAQUE
Black cocoa formed the base, espresso fudge introduced a darker roasted note, and balsamic cherry added fruit and acidity. The mixture was naturally colored to support the visual concept while retaining a familiar ice-cream structure.
SoHo Became Fully Monochrome
The temporary shop used glossy black tile, a dark ceiling, black seating, restrained pendant lighting, black waffle cones, and limited merchandise. Scoops and pints were sold on-site during the three-day run from noon to 7 p.m.
Seven Drawings Joined the Installation
Hendry made seven original works for the collaboration, placing her hyperreal drawing practice beside the edible subject. The gallery also connected OPAQUE to a larger series of framed scoop studies and the artist's interest in ordinary consumer objects.
The Flavor Launched Nationwide
Jeni's released OPAQUE in shops and online on August 14, one day before the New York pop-up opened. Hendry's related art release followed on August 17. The Jeni's site and Cj Hendry Studio maintain their current product and project archives.