Evelyn and Jerome Ackerman: California Mid-Century Designers

Evelyn and Jerome Ackerman: California Mid-Century Designers is the definitive statement pioneering husband and wife team who did so much to build the legacy of mid-century design and craft in California.

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 their combination of 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. Because of the success of Hand-in-Hand, Pointed Leaf Press is publishing a new book, in a much larger format, with 80% new material, much of it discovered by Ackerman-Shaw in her parent’s archive. 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 of their choosing. Unlike the previous monograph, this book focuses less on their personal lives and more on the Ackerman’s impact on the world, a must-read for collectors and connoisseurs. 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.

A native of Los Angeles, Laura Ackerman-Shaw received a Bachelor’s degree and Master’s degree in English literature from Stanford University. She worked in publishing for 35 years as a divisional director managing design, production, editorial, and translations. In 2015, Laura established Ackerman Modern and currently serves as the Executive Director. She has given presentations, coordinated exhibitions, and written articles about her parents’ life and work for various organizations and publications.