Material Curiosity by Design: Evelyn and Jerome Ackerman with Porfirio Gutiérrez, Joli Ngo, and Vince Skelly

Material Curiosity by Design: Evelyn and Jerome Ackerman with Porfirio Gutiérrez, Jolie Ngo, and Vince Skelly features the vibrant designs of Evelyn and Jerome Ackerman in dialogue with works by contemporary artists Porfirio Gutiérrez, Jolie Ngo, and Vince Skelly. Showcasing ceramic, textile, mosaic, wood, and metal, the exhibition sparks a dynamic conversation about materials, innovation, and craft.  

Known for their colorful, playful, and optimistic designs, Evelyn and Jerome Ackerman partnered for decades to bring decorative objects into homes across the United States. Born and trained in Detroit, Michigan, the Ackermans moved to Los Angeles, California, in the early 1950s, where they set up their studio and shop. Popular press and exhibitions championed their work as a vivid embodiment of midcentury California style. 

Delving into their processes and methods, this exhibition highlights final products alongside preparatory materials—many of which are exhibited for the first time—to shed light on the Ackermans’ artistic practice. The Ackermans epitomized the period term designer-craftsman, bridging their studio craft training with efforts to scale production for broader markets. This show features a cross section of works from their decades-long career and intimate moments of close looking at their design techniques. It invites visitors to explore the interplay between design concepts and material specificity that underpinned the Ackermans’ success. 

This exhibition places the Ackermans in conversation with three California-based artists whose respective practices focus on a single medium. Featured works by these artists are complemented by an exploration of their processes, extending the exhibition’s focus on the relationship between art and making from the midcentury to today. Bringing together historical and contemporary voices, Material Curiosity by Design reveals the ongoing appeal of attending closely to medium in craft practices.