Jerome and Evelyn Ackerman, the prolific artist-couple, were central to the development of mid-century design in Southern California. They combined modernist craft—in weaving, carving, ceramics, tapestries, hookings, and mosaics—and made it accessible to the middle class.
Their works were celebrated for combining bright colors and craftsmanship with an artisanal attention to detail. In Evelyn and Jerome Ackerman: California Mid-Century Designers, Laura Ackerman-Shaw, their daughter, who has expanded their legacy with both commercial and institutional recognition, takes the reader through her parents’ unique impact on post-war design in America. By showcasing their output through Jenev Design Studio, ERA Industries, and their involvement in the prestigious California Design exhibitions from 1954 to 1976, readers can see how they translated their ideas into the varied materials they chose. With new and updated essays by scholars, as well as numerous never-before-seen drawings, photographs, and archival materials, Evelyn and Jerome Ackerman: California Mid-Century Designers is the indelible story of a lifetime of artistic partnership, making it a must-read for collectors and connoisseurs.
Publisher: Pointed Leaf Press
Release date: May 2025
Format: Hardcover
Dimensions: 9 x 12”
Pages: 256 pages
ISBN: 978-1-938461-66-8