Self-taught, eccentric, and famously reclusive, artist Joseph Cornell seldom strayed from his home state of New York. In his mind, however, he ventured far beyond any earthly borders, conjuring fantastical worlds in surprising assemblages of thrift-store exotica and assorted bric-a-brac. “Joseph Cornell: Wanderlust,” which opened this past weekend at London’s Royal Academy of Arts, brings together around 80 examples of his work, including the glass-front shadow boxes for which he is best known along with rare collages and films, the latter spliced together using found footage. Prepare to be transported.
Through September 27 at the Royal Academy of Arts; royalacademy.org.uk*