The International Museum of Dinnerware Design has produced an intimate and fascinating video about Evelyn and Jerome Ackerman, who helped create the distinct design language and aesthetic of California mid-century modernism.
Presented by Evelyn and Jerome’s daughter, California native Laura Ackerman-Shaw, Material Curiosity by Design: Evelyn and Jerome Ackerman is part of the IMoDD Unforgettable Dinnerware lecture series.
The Ackermans’ six-decade personal and professional partnership produced a wide ranging body of work across media including ceramics, textiles, mosaics, wood, and metal that bridged their fine art and studio craft training. Their sophisticated yet approachable designs, rooted in craftsmanship, helped bring modernism into everyday life.
The video examines the Ackermans’ prolific career, material exploration, design process, and continuing impact. Exhibited internationally and held in major museum collections including the Smithsonian and LACMA, the Ackermans are being celebrated with “Material Curiosity by Design” at Craft Contemporary in Los Angeles through May 10.
IMoDD’s Unforgettable Dinnerware online lecture series includes tours of private collections and artist studios. The series allows you to meet directly with dinnerware designers and contemporary artists, and shares presentations by researchers and authors on major dinnerware manufacturers, including mid-century modern dinnerware.