When Evelyn and Jerome Ackerman met and married in Detroit in 1948, they began a seven-decade love affair and creative partnership that would have a major impact on the aesthetic of California mid-century modernism.
At the time, Jerome was a charismatic World War II veteran, Evelyn a young assistant at Luce Lipton Interior Design Studio, where he first spied her folding fabric samples and presented her with a Milky Way bar.
Working out of their studio in Los Angeles, where they moved in 1952 to be part of California’s burgeoning design scene, the two would produce handcrafted case pieces, tapestries and other decorative objects in a variety of media, including ceramics, textiles, carved wood, mosaics and enamel.
The multifaceted pair collaborated with firms and designers such as Victor Gruen; Skidmore, Owings & Merrill; Paul McCobb; Steve Chase; and Arthur Elrod, an incredibly influential talent whose own clients included Frank and Lucille Capra, Hoagy Carmichael, Claudette Colbert, and more.
The Ackermans’ prolific body of work is distinguished by a hand-wrought sense of warmth and texture; a mix of folk art — like figuration and colorful abstraction; depictions of flowers, animals, children and mythical figures; and a belief in the Bauhaus principles of design. These days, their oeuvre proves very much in demand, and the Ackermans, in the tradition of husband-and-wife creators like the Eameses and Les Lalanne, rank among the most influential design couples in history.
Evelyn considered her Stories from the Bible, comprised of 40 individual cloisonné squares, each depicting a different tale from the Old Testament, to be her most challenging and gratifying piece. She worked on it every day for a year and half, completing the composition — which was acquired by the Smithsonian Museum — in 1985.
Evelyn died in 2012 at age 88, while Jerome, known as Jerry, died in 2019. A testament to the renewed interest in their work, Pointed Leaf Press published Hand-in-Hand, Ceramics, Mosaics, Tapestries, and Woodcarvings by California Mid-Century Designers Evelyn and Jerome Ackerman in 2014, the first book to document the lives and careers of the couple.
Find vintage Evelyn Ackerman wall decorations and other furniture on 1stDibs.
Evelyn & Jerome Ackerman for ERA Industries — Hand-Painted Hydrastone Sculptures
By Evelyn Ackerman
Located in Oceanside, US
Hand-painted hydrastone figure by Evelyn & Jerome Ackerman for ERA Industries, produced in the 1960s–1970s. Fully marked on the underside, this piece is part of the Ackermans’ highly...
Stone
$360Sale Price|20% Off
H 5.5 in W 12 in D 4 in
Hand Painted Porcelain Polar Bear Sculpture by Bing & Grondahl
By Bing & Grøndahl
Located in San Diego, CA
A very nice hand painted porcelain polar bear sculpture by Bing & Grondahl of Denmark, circa 1970s. The piece is in very good vintage condition with no chips or crcks and measures a ...
Porcelain
$1,295
H 17.5 in W 8.5 in D 13 in
Mid-Century Era Ronzan Italian Hand-Painted Ceramic Cheetah Sculpture
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This sizable ceramic and well executed Cheetah sculpture is signed by the maker Ronzan of Italy and dates to approximately 1960 and done in the period Mid-Century Modern style. The s...
Ceramic
White Painted Iron Rabbit Sculpture for Garden
Located in Marbella, ES
Charming rabbit sculpture crafted from cast iron and finished in white paint with a soft patina that highlights its texture and volume. Its upright posture and the detailed fur add c...
Iron
Large Leather Wrapped Hand Painted Giraffe Sculpture
By Abercrombie & Fitch
Located in Denton, TX
Extra Large hand crafted leather wrapped giraffe sculpture. intricate Hand wrapped leather with hand painted spots & details. Very rare to find one this tall! An extraordinary additi...
Metal
Hand Carved & Hand Painted Rooster Sculpture
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Hand carved & hand painted rooster sculpture. Very folky rooster.
Wood
Mid Century Era Cold-Painted Cast Metal Horse Racing Jockey Sculpture
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This cast and cold painted spelter horse jockey sculpture is unsigned, and presumed to have been made in the United States in approximately 1960. The scu...
Spelter
Monumental Planter in the Style of Evelyn and Jerome Ackerman
By Evelyn & Jerome Ackerman
Located in South Charleston, WV
Circa 1965. 18" cubed. This planter was obtained from a bank in WV that also featured doors by David Gillespie of Forms and Surfaces - the company that was previously known as panelc...
Oak
$1,595
H 12.5 in W 12 in D 4 in
Vintage hand painted, Etched possibly brass Peacock Sculpture Statuette.
Located in Seattle, WA
This Piece is an India Import. Hand Painted and etched this piece would make a beautiful addition to your home. Believed to be brass in material but not confirmed. This Piece has nic...
Brass
$3,591
H 14.1 in W 16.5 in D 9.5 in
Antique Victorian era Hand Carved Black Forest Bull Sculpture Wall Bracket
Located in Lisse, NL
Stunning large carved wooden bull wall shelf. Over the years we have had the pleasure of owning and selling a number of beautiful Black Forest antiques, but never did we come accross a 19th century Black Forest wall bull bracket of this size and with such amazing natural details and warm patina. This marvelously handcrafted and good condition, bull sculpture wall shelf...
Wood
Mid Century Hand Painted Ceramic Lion Sculpture, Italy, 1960s
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Italian ceramic, perfect condition, produced in 1960s. Signed Made in Italy. We have also another big cats for sale, check our products. Only one unique piece available.
Ceramic
Modernist Surreal Era Bronze Sculpture Candleholder
By Henry Moore
Located in Las Vegas, NV
Forged bronze that's been hammered, stretched, twisted and formed into a surreal modernist candlestick. Removable candle cup. Stands 15" tall. Not signed, circa 1950s.
Bronze
Hand Painted Ronzan Italian Ceramic Parrot Sculpture
Located in Voorburg, NL
A striking example of mid-century Italian ceramic art, this Ronzan parrot sculpture exemplifies the refined craftsmanship and expressive design for which the Ronzan brothers are reno...
Ceramic
Sold
H 12 in W 11 in D 1 in
Evelyn and Jerry Jerome Ackerman Wood, Wall Sculpture / Panel / Carving, Signed
By Evelyn Ackerman
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This panel is one original from the wood studio in Los Angeles and is actually hand signed Evelyn Ackerman Design in back.
Wood
1970s Evelyn Ackerman Era for Panelcarve Vineyard Winemaker Bas Relief
By Evelyn Ackerman
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Evelyn Ackerman for Panelcarve bas relief wood panel featured on the Ackerman website and titled Vineyard #2, 1967. Panel depicts a Primitive sce...
Wood