Jerome Ackerman

After Jerome “Jerry” Ackerman earned his MFA from A.U. in 1952, he and his wife Evelyn moved to California to start their own ceramics studio. They soon founded Jenev Design Studio and began making slip-cast ceramics. Intent on designing well-made pieces with distinctive character, the couple expanded to mosaics, wall hangings, woodcarvings, and other decorative works by the mid-1950s.

Making ceramics has been a lifelong activity for Jerry. A limited number of his original designs are currently being reproduced. His work appears in permanent collections of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the Smithsonian. A pair of his limited-edition lovebird candleholders was also featured in the weekend edition of the Wall Street Journal in early December 2017.

In a recent letter to Alfred University’s President Mark Zupan, Jerry recognized A.U.’s ceramics program for helping him develop the skills necessary to start a ceramics business. Jerry was honored as a Distinguished Alumnus of Alfred University in 2010 for his achievements.