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 Ackerman 'Horsemen' Wood Carved Panel
By Evelyn Ackerman
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Wood carving by California artist, Evelyn Ackerman, c.1964, USA. This plaque features five mounted horsemen. Dimensions 39" width x 1" depth x 9.25" height. Condition Good vintage...
Wood
Evelyn Ackerman Large Scale Wood Carved Panel for Era Industries
By Evelyn Ackerman
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Large scale wood carved panel by California artist, Evelyn Ackerman for Era Industries c.1960s. This carving features various nature themes like the sun, trees, fish, birds and leav...
Wood
$1,225Sale Price|30% Off
Evelyn Ackerman Panelcarve Art Flora de Madera Era Industries 1963
By Evelyn Ackerman
Located in Stafford, TX
Beautiful wood carving in great overall condition as seen. See photos for details. Message with questions.
Walnut
$2,800Sale Price|20% Off
Rare Hydastone “Flora de Madera” Panel by Evelyn Ackerman, 1960s
By Evelyn Ackerman
Located in Oceanside, US
A rare Flora de Madera wall panel by renowned California designer Evelyn Ackerman, produced by ERA Industries in the 1960s. This sculptural bas-relief depicts a stylized female figure holding a flower, surrounded by Ackerman’s signature geometric border—an iconic example of mid-century West Coast modernism. What sets this piece apart is its Hydastone construction—a high-strength, gypsum-based casting material used for a limited number of Ackerman’s panels...
Cement, Other
Mounted Wood Horse Head
Located in Houston, TX
This fabulous carved Horse head is from a French Saddlery. Saddleries were used to design, manufacture, rebuild, and repair a wide variety of saddles, saddle trees, harnesses, riding...
Metal
Evelyn Ackerman ERA Hand Hooked Tapestry Rug
By Evelyn & Jerome Ackerman
Located in Kansas City, MO
Hand hooked tapestry by Evelyn and Jerome Ackerman, ERA, Los Angeles. Hand made in Japan. These are becoming increasingly rare. Very good original...
Nylon
Pair of Hand Carved Cherub Angel Head, Anri, Italy, 1980s
By ANRI
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Beautiful hand carved pair of Cherub Angel head, found at an estate sale in Germany. Made by Anri a well-known wood carving company in Italy. We believe that these pieces are from th...
Wood
Evelyn Ackerman Cityscape Tapestry
By Evelyn Ackerman
Located in Highland, IN
A lovely tapestry by Evelyn Ackerman in vivid warm hues, this piece interprets a cityscape as abstract blocks of color. We believe the title of this piece is "Byzantia". 33.5"h X ...
Wool
$1,320Sale Price|20% Off
H 48 in W 20 in D 1 in
SALE Handmade Mid Century Modern Evelyn Ackerman Style Textile Art Wall Hanging
By Evelyn Ackerman
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
CENTRAL AVENUE MODERN ALL TAPESTRY SALE! Spectacular Mid Century Modern, Scandinavian, Evelyn Ackerman Style Hand Tufted, Freeform, Colorful, Wool & ...
Wool
$680
H 11.75 in W 5.75 in D 5.75 in
Black Forest Folk Art Carved Wood Deer Head with Glass Eyes, 19th Century
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A great looking hand carved original wooden Folk Art deer head wall decoration. A great piece for a suitable ambiance in a trophy room or the office of ...
Glass, Wood
$2,750
H 20.5 in Dm 1.75 in
Carved Redwood Architectural Panel by Evelyn and Jerome Ackerman for Panelcarve
By Evelyn & Jerome Ackerman
Located in BROOKLYN, NY
The radiating sun motif reflects the optimism and indoor–outdoor living ideals central to California mid-century architecture. Solar imagery became a defining decorative element in t...
Wood
$2,399Sale Price|20% Off
H 38 in W 38 in D 8 in
Mid Century Brutalist Starburst Sunburst Wall Art. Enamel Steel Curtis Jere Era
By Curtis Jeré
Located in Peoria, AZ
GORGEOUS! MID CENTURY MODERN BRUTALIST STARBURST METAL WALL SCULPTURE Direst Metal Sculpture Steel & Enamel Attributed to Curtis Jere 38" wide by 8" deep This marvelous metal sculpture is a brutalist tour de force! Melted metal looks as hot as a molten star! Rays shoot out in all directions and have multiple layers and lengths! This work is in very fine vintage condition. The steel has been gilt enameled in a splatter pattern to catch the light when the sun hits it, creating a very scintillating visual effect. Incredible labor went into this piece and it displays beautifully. It's really hard to find these iconic mid century metal sculptures...
Metal, Enamel
$1,610Sale Price|30% Off
H 24 in W 24 in D 3 in
Mid Century Modern Brutalist Starburst Sunburst Wall Art. Curtis Jere Era
By Curtis Jeré
Located in Peoria, AZ
GORGEOUS! MID CENTURY MODERN BRUTALIST STARBURST METAL WALL SCULPTURE Direst Metal Sculpture Steel & Enamel Attributed to Curtis Jere 24" wide by 3" deep This marvelous metal...
Metal, Enamel
Vintage Mid Century "Gallant Horse" Mosaic by Evelyn Ackerman
By Evelyn Ackerman, Era Industries
Located in Oxnard, CA
Here is a fantastic "Gallant Horse" glass tile mosaic by Evelyn Ackerman, ERA Industries, circa 1950s. It is in excellent original condition with only minor wear to the walnut frame...
Glass, Walnut
Woven Wool Tapestry in the Style of Evelyn Ackerman
By Evelyn Ackerman
Located in Kansas City, MO
Beautiful vintage modern wall hanging of an outdoor scene with people, animals, and trees in the styled of Evelyn Ackerman. Very good condi...
Wool
$960
H 12 in W 6.5 in D 9 in
Black Forest Folk Art Carved Wood Chamois Head with Real Horns, 19th Century
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A great looking hand carved original wooden Folk Art chamois head wall decoration. A great piece for a suitable ambiance in a trophy room or the office of a Hunter or Woodsman. More ...
Wood
Evelyn Ackerman Bird Wood Carved Panel
By Evelyn Ackerman
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Wood carving by California artist, Evelyn Ackerman, c.1960s. This plaque features a hand carved bird. Dimensions 9.25" width x 1" depth x 12" height. Condition Good vintage condit...
Wood
Evelyn Ackerman Panelcarve Pisces Bas Relief Design Wood Panel
By Evelyn Ackerman
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Redwood bas relief tile panel with Piesces carving, designed and created by Evelyn and Jerry Ackerman of Los Angeles, California. Panel measures approx...
Wood
Evelyn Ackerman Panelcarve Scorpio Bas Relief Design Wood Panel
By Evelyn Ackerman
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Redwood bas relief tile panel designed and created by Evelyn and Jerry Ackerman of Los Angeles, California. Panel measures approximately 9" by 9" by 1....
Wood
Sold
H 9 in W 9 in D 1.25 in
Evelyn Ackerman Panelcarve Sagittarius Abstract Bas Relief Design Wood Panel
By Evelyn Ackerman
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Redwood bas relief tile panel designed and created by Evelyn and Jerry Ackerman of Los Angeles, California. Panel measures approximately 9" by 9" by 1....
Wood
Evelyn Ackerman Teak Wood Carving for ERA Industries, c.1960
By Era Industries, Evelyn & Jerome Ackerman, Evelyn Ackerman
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Evelyn Ackerman Teak Wood Carved Wall Plaque of Two Birds for ERA Industries, c.1960. Stamped ERA Industries Inc. to the back.
Teak
Evelyn Ackerman Animal Wood Carved Panel
By Evelyn Ackerman
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Wood carving by California artist, Evelyn Ackerman, c.1960s. This carving features a hand carved creature. Dimensions 12.5" width x 9.25" depth x 1" height. Condition Good, origina...
Wood
Evelyn Ackerman Carved Wood Panel
By Evelyn Ackerman
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Wood carving by California artist, Evelyn Ackerman, c.1960s. This carving features three animals, a zebra, an antelope and an owl in a rectangular ebonized wood frame. Dimensions 4...
Wood
Carved Oak Wood Panel by Evelyn Ackerman
By Evelyn Ackerman
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Dark oak wood caved panel by Evelyn Ackerman for ERA Industries. It’s marked EA on the lower right corner and Stamped ERA Industries on back. Measurements: 39.18” Wide, 9.5” Hi...
Oak
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
Sold
H 63.75 in W 21.75 in D 2 in
Mcm Rare Evelyn Ackerman Wood Carved Panel for Panelcarve Evie’s Birds
By Evelyn Ackerman
Located in Richmond, Surrey
Rare Evelyn Ackerman wood carved panel for Panelcarve – Evie’s Birds Please note 2 panels are available > selling individually Extremely Rare wood carved panels designed by Evelyn Ackerman for Panelcarve. These panels would have been mostly used to decorate doors, and also used as wall coverings. This particular design is called ‘Evie’s Birds’ and to this day there is still one of these panels on the door of the San Diego Zoo...
Softwood
Evelyn Ackerman Designed Mosaic Panel
By Evelyn Ackerman
Located in Palm Springs, CA
An abstracted nocturnal scene with flowering plants in blues, greens and pinks. The mosaic has lost its label, but we believe this to have been created at Ackerman's Era Studio in Me...