The Umlauf Sculpture Garden in Zilker Park contains the life's work of Charles Umlauf, a University of Texas sculpture professor who taught in Austin for 40 years and bequeathed his studio and collection to the city. Over 130 sculptures — in bronze, marble, terracotta, and wood — are displayed in a rambling outdoor garden and a small indoor gallery.
Umlauf's style is figurative and accessible: mothers and children, dancers, mythological figures, and occasional religious subjects, all rendered with a warmth that suits the garden setting. The outdoor pieces are scattered under oak trees and along stone paths, and the effect is of an unusually personal and peaceful outdoor museum. The garden is in a pleasant part of Zilker Park, adjacent to the outdoor amphitheatre and a short walk from Barton Springs Pool. Admission is inexpensive.