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Joseph Cornell was an American artist, known for making Surrealist inspired assemblages that fit into boxes. Cornell was born in Nyack, New York to a family of dour children. When Cornell’s father died the family was forced to move to Queens, New York. Cornell left home for a short while to study at Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts, but left without graduating. Cornell returned to his mother’s house, where he lived for most of his life. Cornell’s brother, Robert also lived at home, who suffered form cerebral palsy. Cornell was notoriously shy and awkward in social circumstances. It is assumed Cornell was attracted to women, though he never had a serious relationship. Cornell was an adamant supporter of Christian Science and cherished the book, Science and Health with Key to Scriptures.

Cornell worked various jobs to support his family, first selling textiles and appliances before getting a job designing textiles. In the 1940s, Cornell did some graphic design work, creating the covers of Harper’s Bazaar and View, among other magazines. Cornell had to reserve his evenings to works on his assemblages, put together with objects that he found in his spare time. It was not until 1948, that Cornell had his first solo show, and his boxes began to sell. As Cornell became a more acknowledged artist he started working with filmmakers, such as Stan Brakhage and Larry Jordan, making short, silent films that referenced his assemblages.

While Cornell’s reputation as an artist grew, he remained reclusive and loyal to taking care of his brother. At certain points he hired young artists help him with his assemblages, while he focused on making collages and films. Cornell rarely showed his films in public after a confrontation with Salvador Dalí, who claimed Cornell was trying to steal his idea of combining film and collage. Cornell continued to make films, but concentrated on exhibiting his other work.

Many of Cornell’s assemblages were meant to be interactive, containing nostalgic finding s from thrift stores, photos, household objects, etc. Cornell created his own library of images and information in the form of a “dossiers”, which he could draw from when he started new project. While Cornell had no formal art training he studied independently and appreciated the work of the Symbolists, Transcendentalists, Surrealists and Constructivists.

After Cornell’s death his assemblages, dossiers, collages and films became a part of major museum collections in his home city of New York and around the world. Cornell’s work continues to inspire artists and filmmakers working today. Do you think you own a piece by Joseph Cornell? Contact us. We are the experts on Joseph Cornell.