The enigmatic boxes created by Joseph Cornell (1903–1972) have confounded, astonished, and entranced viewers for decades. The mysterious juxtapositions of ordinary objects that the artist purchased at bookshops and junk shops and otherwise casually acquired have been parsed, interpreted, speculated upon, and simply reveled in by art historians and average observers alike.  

Cornell’s personal story is as compelling as his art. Living nearly his entire life in his mother’s modest home in Flushing, Queens, he never sought the limelight. And despite the fame and honors accorded him, he didn’t venture beyond the New York City area, instead letting colleagues come to him. Art critic and adviser Judy Pomeranz examines Cornell’s fascinating life and explores the mystery of how and why his iconic boxes continue to touch people around the world.

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