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
$5,800
H 3.5 in W 8 in D 3.25 in
Art Pottery Bird Dish by ( Evelyn and ) Jerome Ackerman for Jenev, 1953
By Evelyn & Jerome Ackerman
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Art Pottery / Slip-cast Ceramic Bird Dish (Evelyn and) Jerome Ackerman for Jenev Design Studio Inscribed on the bottom with “Ackerman” and “Jenev” ( Jenev is very faint ) Los Angele...
Ceramic
$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
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
$5,800 / set
H 3.875 in W 5.25 in D 2 in
Art Pottery Bird Candle Holders by (Evelyn and) Jerome Ackerman for Jenev, 1953
By Evelyn & Jerome Ackerman
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Pair of Slip-cast Ceramics / Art Pottery Bird Candle Holders ( Evelyn and ) Jerome Ackerman for Jenev Design Studio Inscribed on the bottom with “Ackerman” and “Jenev.” Los Angeles, 1953 "Rare opportunity to own an original "rare" piece of California Mid-Century Modern Art Pottery History" "In very good as found condition, no chips or hairline cracks" "Jenev Design Studio: 1952–1955: Renting a small space at 2207 Federal Avenue in West Los Angeles, the Ackermans opened Jenev Design Studio, a combination of their first names. With very little money, they set about building a successful career based on ingenuity, talent, and hard work. Jerry began creating his first group of slip cast pottery, using the skills he had honed at Alfred. Designing shapes, making molds, and developing glazes consumed nearly a year. Jenev’s first client was Carroll Sager Associates and Jules Seltzer, a prominent Los Angeles showroom for modernist furniture. During this same period, they also designed a number of products for Cal Pacific Imports." "A limited edition in BLACK of this same item was reissued / produced in 2019 using the original 1953 molds shortly after Jerry Ackerman...
Ceramic
Carved Wood Lion Sculpture in the Manner of Evelyn Ackerman
By Evelyn & Jerome Ackerman
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A beautiful 1970’s carved wood lion sculpture in the manner of Evelyn Ackerman. It’s not marked. But beautifully carved, possibly pine. Measurements: 26” wide, 7” deep and 10.5” high.
Pine
Hand Painted Porcelain Pheasant Sculpture from Herend 1970s
By Herend
Located in Milano, MI
Hand-painted porcelain pheasant sculpture from Herend, made in the 1970s Ø cm 22 Ø cm 5 h cm 8 Herend porcelains are among the most prestigious and sought-after in the world. Made ...
Porcelain
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
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
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
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
1970s Large Scale Giraffe Statue Sculpture by Marwal Industries
Located in Jensen Beach, FL
Charming, relatively large scale giraffe statue by Marwal.
Composition
$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
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