Joseph Cornell is a famous American artist of the 20th century, an outstanding representative of the assemblage. Joseph Cornell became famous for creating original sets in boxes based on all kinds of decor (toys, photographs, dishes, antiques and other trinkets). Today, the best masterpieces of the master’s work are kept in museums in the United States, and his biography is an example of a caring attitude towards loved ones in the best traditions of Christian morality.

Joseph Cornell has also had a passion for cinematography for many years. During his life he created a number of short documentaries using original collages, photographic films and specific soundtracks.

Biography of Joseph Cornell

His parents loved their two sons, but unfortunately the youngest of them (Robert) was born with cerebral palsy. Joseph’s cloudless childhood came to an abrupt end in 1917, when his father, who worked as a director at a textile factory, died suddenly of a heart attack.

The care of raising children fell on the shoulders of the mother – an ordinary kindergarten teacher. Soon the widow and sons decided to move permanently to New York. Despite an acute shortage of money, his mother persuaded Joseph to enter the prestigious Philips Academy so that he would receive a good education.

But Cornell stayed at the elite institution for only three and a half years, after which he dropped out and returned to New York. He devoted his later life to caring for his mother and sick brother, completely abandoning personal happiness. Joseph took a job at a wholesale textile company. In his free time, he read religious literature, which had a huge impact on him. Under the influence of Mary Baker’s books, Eddie Cornell became a deeply religious and shy man who eschewed women and noisy companies.

In the late 1920s, Joseph became interested in the work of the Dadaists and Surrealists, especially the work of Max Ernst, Marcel Duchamp and Kurt Schwitters. At the same time, Cornell began to conduct his own creative experiments in the assemblage technique. Only in 1936 did the artist decide to present his works for the first time at an exhibition of contemporary art. The innovative style of the young master attracted the attention of the public and eminent colleagues. The 3D collages he created received critical acclaim.

In 1949, after the first solo exhibition, the artist became widely known.

His work increased significantly in price and creativity began to bring the master a good income. The money earned from the sale of the “boxes” was enough to support the family. Joseph was finally able to devote himself entirely to art. In the early 1960s, he met and became friends with the Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama, who was 26 years his junior. A warm platonic relationship began between kindred spirits. They called each other daily and spent hours in conversation.

In 1965, the artist’s brother died, and a year later, his mother. Left alone, the authoritative master began to lead the most secluded life and appeared less and less in public. Despite numerous invitations from different countries and cities of the United States, he practically did not leave New York. According to contemporaries, the artist was a very erudite person and read a lot. He gladly gave his work to Hollywood stars, writers and theatrical figures, without demanding anything in return.

Having achieved worldwide recognition and becoming a very wealthy person by the end of his life, on December 29, 1972, Joseph Cornell died suddenly of a heart attack at the age of 69. And shortly before his death, he bequeathed all his cinematic work to a public charitable foundation.