This Takes Doing: The Partnership of Angie and Charles Umlauf

This exhibition of archival objects explores the intertwined life and business partnership of Angeline and Charles Umlauf, who met as young students at the Art Institute of Chicago and married in 1937. Charles had already gained attention for sculptures and reliefs he made under the Works Progress Administration, the ambitious employment and infrastructure program created by President Franklin Roosevelt in 1935. As Charles’ art career began to take off, the couple relocated to Austin in 1941 for his new job as the first Life Drawing and Sculpture professor at the University of Texas at Austin. Angie soon became the de facto business manager, overseeing financials, negotiating contracts, handling exhibition logistics, and maintaining meticulous records. For over 50 years, their mutual dedication to Charles’ career made him one of the most prolific and successful American sculptors. 

 

This Takes Doing is arranged into 4 sections, each highlighting a different aspect of the partnership. The section titles were all derived from the family letters: “No Work No Pay” focuses on the occasionally unglamorous side of the creative process, including the relentless hard work, disagreements with patrons, and teaching responsibilities at UT. “La Fonderia” offers a view into Charles’ summer life in Italy, where he spent years traveling to cast his bronzes and oversee stone carvings. “XOXO Angie” presents their love through letters, photos, and sculptures the couple made of one another.  The largest section, “Here in Austin,” focuses on the entire family’s life together, featuring material from the 1940s through the 1970s, including 1950s-era furniture that graced their home. The 4 sections overlap and intersect, mirroring how Angie and Charles’ artistic, personal, and professional lives were interwoven. 

 

This past year, the Umlauf home and studio were awarded a National Register of Historic Places designation. In celebration of this achievement and the future unification of this entire site, almost all the objects and documents on view come from the UMLAUF Sculpture Garden + Museum archives and collection. We are honored to share this historical exhibition that reveals a unique glimpse into the dynamic partnership of Charles and Angie Umlauf, whose work and shared vision leave an enduring legacy and inspiration for future generations.