Ponti Art Gallery is interested in buying and selling works
of art by this artist.
Joseph Cornell Biography
Joseph Cornell, born on December 24, 1903, in Nyack, New York, was a pioneering American artist renowned for his innovative assemblage works, experimental films, and shadow boxes. Despite his lack of formal art education, Cornell developed a unique artistic style that placed him at the forefront of the American avant-garde and made him a key figure in the development of assemblage art. His work, characterized by its poetic and nostalgic qualities, bridges Surrealism, Abstract Expressionism, and Pop Art, reflecting a deeply personal universe that Cornell crafted from his home in Queens, New York, where he lived for most of his life.
Cornell's early life was marked by tragedy and isolation. After his father's death in 1917, the family's financial situation forced them to move to Queens, New York. Cornell attended Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts, but did not graduate. Returning to New York, he took various jobs, including as a textile salesman, to support his family. His brother Robert, who suffered from cerebral palsy, and his mother, became his lifelong dependents, further deepening Cornell's isolation from the outside world.
Despite these challenges, Cornell's fascination with art, literature, and culture flourished. He was a voracious reader and an avid collector, gathering books, prints, photographs, and ephemera that would later become integral to his art. Cornell was largely self-taught, drawing inspiration from his extensive explorations of New York City's libraries, museums, theaters, and antique shops. His encounters with Surrealism and the works of artists like Max Ernst and Marcel Duchamp in the early 1930s had a profound impact on his artistic direction.
Cornell's signature works are his shadow boxes, three-dimensional assemblages housed in wooden boxes and covered with glass. These miniature universes combined found objects, photographs, and ephemera in poetic and often enigmatic compositions. Themes of nostalgia, memory, and longing pervade his work, with references to astronomy, birds, ballet, and the bygone era of the 19th century. Cornell's boxes are not merely collections of objects but are imbued with a sense of mystery and an invitation to the viewer to engage in a personal dialogue with the work.
In addition to his assemblages, Cornell was an innovative filmmaker, creating films through the montage of found footage. His experimental films, like his assemblages, are characterized by their dreamlike quality and their exploration of themes such as nostalgia and fantasy.
Despite his reclusive nature, Cornell maintained correspondence and friendships with a number of contemporary artists and was an influential figure in the New York art scene. His work was exhibited in several important shows, including the "Surréalisme" exhibition at the Julien Levy Gallery in 1932 and the "Fantastic Art, Dada, and Surrealism" exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art in 1936.
Cornell's legacy is that of an artist who transcended the boundaries of traditional art forms to create a unique and deeply personal body of work. His shadow boxes and films continue to inspire artists and captivate audiences with their beauty, complexity, and emotional depth. Joseph Cornell passed away on December 29, 1972, in New York City, leaving behind a rich and enduring artistic legacy that continues to be celebrated and studied.
Joseph Cornell Quotes and
Sales of Works
Ponti Art Gallery selects and deals with paintings by the
artist. Upon request, we provide free estimates and
evaluations, communicate prices, quotations, and current
market values.
If you are interested in BUYING or SELLING works by the
artist, contact us immediately.
If you wish to sell or receive an evaluation of the
works:
Send us a frontal photo of the painting, one of the back,
and one of the signature. Also, indicate the dimensions of
the work. Inform us about the purchase origin of the work
and any kind of available documentation (purchase
receipts, certificates of authenticity, publications). One
of our operators will respond to you on the same day. We
guarantee maximum confidentiality and extreme
professionalism.
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