This realistic Umlauf Museum Austin Guide helps you plan your next adventure in this sculpture garden.

The UMLAUF is an open-air art museum in Austin, Texas. This sculpture garden is on the grounds of Charles Umlauf’s former home and studio.

This post includes affiliate links that will earn us commission if you make a purchase via these links.

Sights & Places of Interest

Charles Umlauf was an American sculptor in the mid to late 20th century. A native of Michigan, the sculptor spent his teenage and college years in Chicago, Illinois before moving to Austin.

Umlauf donated his house, property, and nearly 200 sculptures to the City of Austin in 1985. The city opened the Umlauf Sculpture Garden and Museum to the public 6 years later.

You could see 60 out of 168 sculptures that Umlauf donated to the museum. A few statues are right at the parking lot. But you should head through an arch to see most of the collection in the main garden.

This Umlauf Museum Austin Guide walks you through a typical path through the sculpture garden. It highlights a handful of the must-see works in this museum.

1. Pietà

Your visit will start with a check-in and a payment of your admission fee. You are welcome to explore the visiting exhibitions at the Museum Gallery and the Roberta Crenshaw Building.

But you should head to the Terrace if you came to admire Umlauf works. The Terrace houses four sculptures, including a model for Hope of Humanity.

Once you enter the garden, you might not find the first few statues as inspiring. War Mother and Pietà are some of Umlauf’s earliest works. These cast stone and bronze statues send you back to the 1940s.

2. Refugees II

You will see another powerful sculpture across the path from Pietà. Refugees II is a great example of Charles Umlauf’s early works. This sculpture dates back to the same year as Pietà.

World War II ended in 1945. But human suffering that it caused continued for years and generations. A lot of people had to run away from the war zone to save themselves and their families.

Refugees II is a sculpture of a mother holding a child. You could almost feel their fear, pain, and suffering through bronze. This sculpture is just as relevant in this war-torn world as it was in the mid 20th century.

3. Ballerina

You will reach a start of a loop path right after passing Refugees II. There is no right or wrong way to explore the exhibits. But this Umlauf Museum Austin Guide follows a clockwise path.

It means that Ballerina will be the next item to see in the Museum. It is made of bronze. But the material might be its only similarity with Pietà and Refugees II. Charles Umlauf created Ballerina in 1977.

This is one the master’s late works. It might be your first encounter with nude sculptures at the UMLAUF. But it will not be your last. There are lots of other male and female nude works in this open-air museum.

Both Standing Figure – Darlene and Poetess statues will be in the background. These bronze and cast stone works are quite different from elegant Ballerina.

4. Seated Bather

As you take a few steps towards the pond, you will see a few very fitting sculptures. It is difficult to envision a better place for Seated Bather.

This 1958 bronze statue shows a woman getting ready for a swim. You could imagine how the model is about to get up and head to the lake.

It is another tasteful nude work in the Umlauf Sculpture Garden and Museum. The sculptor had a great talent to display the beauty of a human body. Seated Bather and other works are testaments to this skill.

5. Diver

The next statue will make you think about going for a swim again. This thought will be overpowering if you visit the Umlauf Sculpture Garden and Museum during Austin’s summer heat.

It might be difficult to fight this temptation to dip your toes in the pond after seeing Diver. This sculpture shows a boy ready to jump into the plant covered pond.

Lavish Thalia dealbata plants take over the shore. No need to go to the springs of Florida or Palmetto wetlands to see this swamp plant.

Are the plant there to stop visitors for following through on Diver‘s jump? They probably are. But they also provide an amazing ambience for the sculptures.

6. The Kiss

You could catch a glimpse of one of them right next to Diver. But you are better off continuing on the pass around the Pond. Just before you reach Lazarus statue, you will get a great look at The Kiss.

This view is worth a short wait. Aquatic plants cover two kissing bronze figures from all sides. They create a romantic environment where such a kiss feels far more real.

The area in front of the sculpture will not have any plants. This is a great spot to capture The Kiss‘ reflections in the water. You do not need to have a special lens to get a good picture.

7. Prometheus

The next sculpture in the Umlauf Sculpture Garden and Museum is a few steps from the pond. This statue puts you inside of a Greek myth.

You will see Umlauf’s take on Prometheus and his endless suffering. A somewhat unrealistic eagle is there to peck at the hero’s liver.

This 1952 sculpture is more similar to Pietà and Refugees II than to The Kiss and Seated Bather. You could see first-hand how times influenced the master and his works.

8. Rhino

You will arrive the Charles Umlauf’s Home and Studio shortly after Prometheus. Unlike Elisabet Ney Museum and Frank Lloyd Wright Home & Studio, this studio is off limits to the public.

But a handful of notable statues await you in this area of the Umlauf Sculpture Garden and Museum. Rhino is the first of them. This 1976 bronze work is quite a sight to see.

This small statue is one of the few animal sculptures by Charles Umlaf. It is also among his most realistic animal works. Just think about the eagle from Prometheus you saw a bit earlier.

You will have another opportunity to admire animal statues a few steps from Rhino. Wild Boar is a beautiful bronze sculpture, too. It dates back to 1979.

9. Eve

It will not take you long to see a stunning sculpture after admiring Rhino, Wild Boar, and Rooster. But this time it will not be another animal.

Once you turn around, you will see Eve. This bronze structure is a Biblical character. You will see a nude female figure next to the live oak trees.

You might notice that that Eve‘s features are much softer than those of figures in Pietà. This is hardly a surprise. The two sculptures are almost 30 years apart.

10. Reclining Nude

You are certain to notice a staircase to the left from Eve. It leads to a waterfall. This could be a nice short workout for beginner hikers. Avid outdoor enthusiasts should head to the Butler Hike & Bike Trail next.

Meanwhile, the main loop path continues towards the Museum Gallery. You could take a look at cast stone Poetess and bronze Amanti. These statues date back to the very different periods.

You should also make a stop at Reclining Nude sculpture. There are a couple of works with this name in the Umlauf Sculpture Garden and Museum. This bronze sculpture dates back to 1958.

11. Lovers V

As you are finishing the loop walk around the Umlauf Sculpture Garden and Museum, you should take a short detour. A path that starts from Reclining Nude will bring you to the Pitts Pavilion.

You will be on the shores of another pond. It has a lot of plants, too. But they are quite different from the swamp plants at the first pond. Ferns cover this shallow pond and the creek.

Still, they cannot hide another amazing sculpture. Lovers V are a highlight of any visit to the Umlauf Sculpture Garden and Museum.

Continue with this Umlauf Sculpture Garden and Museum Austin Guide. You will learn more about ways to get to the sights, entrance requirements, and places to stay.

Getting to Umlauf Sculpture Garden

The Umlauf Sculpture Garden and Museum is in the center of Austin, Texas. The museum is in the Barton Hills neighborhood of the city.

In addition to the UMLAUF, it houses Barton Springs, Barton Creek, Zilker Park, and the Butler Hike & Bike Trail. The Umlauf Sculpture Garden and Museum is just a few blocks south of the Colorado River.

This whole area is a popular destination for locals and visitors year round. But this area gets incredibly crowded during Austin City Limits (ACL) Music Festival every fall.

Unless you visit the UMLAUF during ACL, you could reach the museum quite easily by car. There is a small parking lot next to the museum’s entrance. It fits just under 20 cars.

There are couple of free parking lots nearby, too. They are all just a few hundred feet (meters) south on Azie Morton Road. Two of these parking lots are paved but the closest one is not.

There is a paved walkway along Azie Morton Road from all these lots to the museum. Beware that this area of the Butler Hike and Bike Trail often attracts some shady characters.

Car break-ins happen at these parking lots but they are not too common. Still, it is best to not leave any valuables in your car. This way, you could explore the Umlauf Sculpture Garden stress free.

You are welcome to visit the UMLAUF by public transport. Bus 30 stops 0.2 miles (0.3 km) north on Barton Springs Road.

This bus connects Westgate Transit Center in the south with Northcross in the north. A single bus ride costs $1.25. A day pass is equal to a round trip fare ($2.5).

The UMLAUF also has a bike rack. The Butler Hike & Bike Trail, Barton Creek and Shoal Creek Greenbelts are great nearby bike trails.

Where to Stay near the UMLAUF

The Umlauf Sculpture Garden and Museum is in a very touristy area of Austin, Texas. Yet, you might be surprised to learn that there are very few hotels within a short walk of the museum.

In fact, The Carpenter Hotel is one of the few options in this neighborhood. On the bright side, you could stop by P. Terry’s Burger Stand #1 or Terry Black’s Barbecue. Both are must-visit in Austin.

All other places to stay require a short bike, bus, or car ride. Staying a little further away opens up a lot more options.

Check out Sonder at The Catherine or Hyatt Regency Austin. Both places to stay are on the Butler Hike and Bike Trail. They are great luxury options.

You will have even more choices once you cross the Colorado River. Consider staying at Fairmont Austin or Austin Proper Hotel, a Member of Design Hotels. Both are amazing places to stay.

As you go towards Texas Capitol, you could consider a few more hotels. Check out Hyatt Centric Congress Avenue Austin and The Stephen F Austin Royal Sonesta Hotel.

Nearly all hotels in Austin Downtown will be quite expensive. They might not have free parking, breakfast, or other amenities. If you are looking for a mid-range hotel, you need to drive a few miles south or north.

Down south, it is hard to overlook Aloft Austin Southwest. Up north, check out Residence Inn by Marriott Austin Northwest/The Domain Area. The Domain Area hotels are a slightly longer drive to the UMLAUF.

Entrance Requirements & Passes

The Umlauf Sculpture Garden and Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday. You could see the exhibits between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on the weekdays. Weekend admission is between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.

The museum is closed on Independence Day, Thanksgiving Day, Black Friday, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day. That leaves you over 300 days to visit the UMLAUF.

The Umlauf Scupture Garden and Museum charges admission fees. The fees differ by age, membership, and military status. Here is the breakdown of the admission fees:

• $7 per adult (17 to 59)
• $5 per senior (60+)
• $3 per student
• $1 per teenager between 13 and 17
• Free for children, military members, veterans, and museum members

The membership to the UMLAUF costs between $60 (individual) to $400 (dual with behind-the-scenes admission). All membership levels come with at least two free guest passes per year.

You might also be able to visit the Umlauf Sculpture Garden and Museum for free. Head to this open-air museum on Austin Museum Day on the second to last Sunday of September.

The museum offers guided tours. These free tours run at 12 p.m. on the third Saturday of each month. You do not need to reserve a spot in advance. Just visit the UMLAUF on any day when the tour is offered.

Takeaways: Umlauf Museum Austin

The Umlauf Sculpture Garden and Museum is a great place to visit in Austin if you like art and statues. It is one of the best art museums to explore in the Capital of Texas.

You could see about 60 works by Charles Umlauf on display in this open-air museum. A creek, ponds, and rugged Barton Hills make a great backdrop for the art works.

But there are also a few reasons to skip this museum. The sculpture garden is quite small. It will be difficult to spend more than 30 minutes there even if you admire each and every sculpture.

As a result, a $7 per adult admission fee might feel a little too high. Moreover, a good number of sculptures at the UMLAUF are nudes. Keep it in mind if you visit the museum with small children.

If museums are not your cup of tea, you might not find the Umlauf Sculpture Garden and Museum worthwhile. In this case, go to Barton Creek and the Butler Hike and Bike Trail to see turtles instead.

Take a look at this Umlauf Sculpture Garden and Museum Austin Video Guide. And visit the YouTube channel for the latest videos.

https://youtu.be/W_KNkVcL1d0

Frequently Asked Questions

Safe realist travels!