The “Designing Home: Jews and Midcentury Modernism” exhibit at the Museum of Jewish Heritage will close January 18. Delving into the role of Jewish architects, designers and patrons in the formation of a new American domestic landscape during the post-WWII decades of the 20th century, the exhibit spotlights vintage furnishings, textiles, ceramics, posters, dinnerware and photographs. The work of 30-plus professionals, including Anni Albers, George Nelson, and Richard Neutra, is profiled.
George Nelson & Associates, Irving Harper, Herman Miller, Marshmallow Sofa, 1956; courtesy Herman Miller, Inc.
Dr. David G. Marwell, director of the Museum of Jewish Heritage, said, “This exhibit focuses on the themes of exile, achievement and expression that were a vital part of the Jewish American experience from the 1920s through the 1960s. We hope visitors walk away from this exhibition with a newfound appreciation for the forward-thinking designs and the men and women who created them.”
Alvin Lustig, Upholstered Chair for Paramount Furniture, 1949; courtesy John Halpern
Henry Dreyfuss, Princess Phone, 1959; courtesy The Contemporary Jewish Museum/Johnna Arnold
Also on view are original furnishings by Bauhaus architect Harry Rosenthal, from Richard Neutra’s 1938 Schiff House; a small gallery spotlighting Judaica design from Anni Albers, Judith Brown and Ludwig Yehuda Wolpert, among others; sections dedicated to Joseph Eichler’s designs and the Walker Art Center’s1947 Idea House; and a section focused on Hollywood’s impact on modern design.
The museum is located in New York's Battery Park City. Learn more.