Born in Nyack, New York, in 1903, Joseph Cornell’s family moved to Queens when he was a teen. As a young man, Cornell began working as a textile salesman, and his work often took him into New York City where he found inspiration to create art. In New York’s art galleries, he saw works by the Surrealists, a group of artists including Salvador Dalí and Max Ernst, who drew inspiration from chance, dreams, and the subconscious. Surrealists often experimented using collage—the arrangement of paper and other flat materials on a flat surface—and assemblage—the arrangement of found objects or other materials in a three-dimensional work. Around the age of 30, Cornell began creating his own collages and developing his own unique style.
This resource is made possible through the generous support of the Joseph and Robert Cornell Memorial Foundation.
