A discussion of sculpture in Austin often leads to sculptor Charles Umlauf (1911–1994). The Umlauf Sculpture Garden & Museum, with its beautiful outdoor setting, is a must see. Charles Umlauf moved his family to Austin in 1941, when he agreed to join the new art department at The University of Texas. He taught there for 40 years, retiring as professor emeritus in 1981. Umlauf’s work can be seen in public collections and museums across the United States. In Texas there are more Umlauf sculptures in public placements than there are works by any other single sculptor. Umlauf’s prolific career, his epic scope, and the delicacy of his work have ensured his position in art history.

Umlauf student David Everett creates painted wood sculptures, as well as bronze animals. Everett’s intricately carved and beautifully painted works are often compositions of several figures (human and/or animal) perched on top of one another. One especially outstanding sculpture includes nine graceful underwater creatures. Many of the figures in his compositions are carved with moveable heads, wings, fins, or torsos that can be turned to various positions, allowing for versatility in viewing and placement. Everett can be reached at his studio. (www.davideverett.com)

Austin sculptor Arye Shapiro offers lovely depictions of the human form in bronze and ceramic. Shapiro takes great care to capture emotion in his work, done largely from live modeling sessions. His work includes full figures, couples, and portraits done in the round and in bas-relief (French for low-relief, similar to that on a coin). Recently, his emotive religious figures have been placed in several churches, a great testament to their broad appeal. Shapiro can be reached at his studio. (www.figure-sculpture.com)

Artist and rancher Bob Coffee casts bronze sculptures of wildlife, racing, and ranching subjects by drawing from his personal experiences. He raises award-winning longhorns, shows them, judges them, and skillfully renders them in bronze. He raced horses—the thrill of the race comes alive in his art. Friends of Big Bend National Park, a private group, took note of his work and commissioned him to do a series of bronzes depicting the animal and bird life of the Chihuahuan Desert. Coffee can be reached at his studio. (www.bobcoffeesculpture.com)

Austin sculptor Gary Yarrington is currently creating a trilogy of bronze equine figures done in a flamboyant style reminiscent of 17th-century artists. The first in the series, Baroque 2003, features a surreal, dancing horse—an elegant, sensitive creature crowded to the corner of its pedestal, looking down at an apparently disturbing coin. An image in relief of a U.S. 1926 silver dollar coin embedded in the base confronts the horse, “…bringing human economics of our time into the scope of the piece,” says Yarrington. Baroque 2004 awaits the lost wax process at the foundry, and 2005 is an idea in progress. Yarrington’s studio is open by appointment. (www.artbyyarrington.com)

Sculpture in Central Texas also takes other forms. Austin artist Todd VanDuren makes glazed clay castles with dramatically stretched perspectives and grand archways. The exaggerated reaching of the towers and slight leanings give them a gestural, animated feeling. This lively quality encourages placement in groups, to create a feeling of intimacy and interlocution. The glazed color appears in simple fields, and the pieces are nicely unified. You could display one of these pieces with painted clouds behind it in your child’s nursery, or it could stand up equally well on black lacquer with a spotlight. Todd’s work can be seen at ClayWays Studio & Gallery. (www.toddvanduren.com)

If an outdoor sculpture is what you have in mind, Austin sculptor Randy Jewart creates large monoliths out of creamy limestone. His work includes fountains, towers, columns, steles, and figures. Some look as though they came from ancient ruins; others are carved with wavy symmetrical textures, looking very modern. The fairly inert quality of stone sculpture makes it perfect for a courtyard, foyer, or flowerbed. (www.randyjewartinc.com)

When placing three-dimensional art, consider your lighting options. Observe the shadow being cast and how it can add clarity and definition to the piece. Avoid automatically centering works. Some sculpture may have many potential settings: inside, in an alcove, or on a porch or patio. Certain materials are generally resistant to the elements and may require only partial protection when placed outside. But looks can be deceiving. If in doubt, ask the artist or gallery about how to care for the piece.

For a list of galleries and studios offering sculpture, go to Art by Type and select the category, or click the following link: Sculpture.

By Rachel Koper, an artist, curator, writer, and the director of Gallery Lombardi in downtown Austin. She is a regular visual arts contributor to San Antonio’s Voices of Artists, Houston’s Glasstire, and The Austin Chronicle.

Photos courtesy of David Everett, Arye Shapiro, Todd VanDuren, and Randy Jewart.
© 2004 Art Lover’s Guide. Inc.