Bio
Madelon Umlauf (b. 1942, Austin, Texas) is a painter whose work bridges nature and abstraction. She studied at the University of Texas at Austin and in New York City, later teaching painting for 30 years at Austin Community College while maintaining an active studio practice in downtown Austin. Deeply engaged in the art scene, she continues to welcome collaboration, dialogue, and friendships that celebrate the authenticity and transformative power of art.
Madelon’s paintings are rooted in natural motifs, which she reinterprets into abstract compositions. Her works reach completion when illusionistic space, dynamic form, and bold color find harmony. Though nature inspires her, she often departs from traditional palettes, favoring unexpected hues that evoke an emotional resonance.
She is particularly drawn to circular canvases, believing their shape aligns more closely with human binocular vision. Unlike rectangular formats, which impose fixed ratios, round paintings create an immersive experience, overtaking the viewer’s field of vision. Throughout history, the circle has been revered as a sacred form—an idea that resonates deeply in her work.
At the core of Madelon’s practice is a conviction that abstraction offers a deeper understanding of reality. Her paintings invite interpretation, embracing intuition as a gateway to transformation and personal discovery.
Education
B.F.A., Painting, University of Texas at Austin, 1964
New York Studio School, NYC, 1964-65 Pratt Graphic Center, NYC, 1965-66 M.A., Art, Hunter College, NYC, 1970
Exhibitions
2023, Solo Exhibition, Lydia Street Gallery, Austin
2023, Alumni Virtual Exhibition, New York Studio School, NY
2022, Alumni Virtual Exhibition, New York Studio School, NY
2021, Alumni Exhibition, New York Studio School, NY
2019, Anonymous Was an Artist, Invitational Exhibition, New York Studio School, NY
2016, Umlauf Generations: Charles, Karl, Lynn, Madelon and Arthur Umlauf, Russell Collection Fine Art, Austin
2015, Annual 5x7, The Contemporary, Austin
2014, Group Show with Carmen Clements, Ward Walker and Madelon Umlauf, Kramer Gallery, Austin Community College, Austin
2013, Austin Community College Faculty Exhibition, Pump Project, Austin
2011, UMLAUF: The Next Generation Exhibition, UMLAUF Sculpture Garden & Museum, Austin
2007, Governor’s Island Project group show, New York Studio School, New York, NY
2006, La Vie des Formes Exposition, Chalon-sur-Saône, France
2006, Red Dot Sale, Women and their Work, Austin
2003, Solo Exhibition, St. Edwards University, Austin
2003, Red Dot Sale, Women and their Work, Austin
2002, Red Dot Sale, Women and their Work, Austin
2002, Waco Art Center, juried
2001, Solo Exhibition, Wally Workman Gallery, Austin
2000, Group Show, New York Studio School, NYC, curated by Irving Sandler
1999, Group Show, Women Printmakers of Austin, Dougherty Arts Center, Austin
1999, Group Show, Rittenhouse Square Gallery, Salado, Texas
1998, 500X Gallery shows, Dallas & Waco
1998, Group Show, Flatbed Press Gallery, Austin
1997, Group Show, Flatbed Press Gallery, Austin
1997, Group Show, Women Printmakers of Austin, Dougherty Arts Center, Austin
1996, Founders Show, New York Studio School, NYC
1996, Group Show, Flatbed Press Gallery, Austin
1996, Group Show, Women Printmakers of Austin, Dougherty Arts Center, Austin
1995, Group Show, New York Studio School, NYC
1995, Group Show, Trax Gallery, Austin
1994, First Prize, Bamboo Art Competition, Austin Garden Center, Austin
1993, USA on Paper, Copenhagen City Gallery, Copenhagen
1992, Group Show, Tarrytown Gallery, Austin
1992, Solo Exhibition, Acme Gallery, Austin
1991, Solo Exhibition, St. Edwards University, Austin
1991, Mexic-Arte Annual, Austin
1991, Solo Exhibition, Acme Gallery, Austin
1990, Group Show, Women & Their Work Gallery, Austin
1990, Mexic-Arte Annual, Austin
1989, Group Show, Austin Visual Arts Association, Austin
1988-89, Group Shows, Image Gallery, Austin
1988, Mexic-Arte Annual, Austin
1987, Mexic-Arte Annual, Austin
1986-87, Group Shows, Patrick Gallery, Austin
1986, Group Show, Wednesdays Gallery, Provincetown, MA
1981, Three Women Show, 500X Gallery, Dallas
1980, Group Show, 500X Gallery, Dallas
1975, Group Show, Noah Goldowsky Gallery, NYC