Hotel Ella
“I loved the Texas modernist art throughout the hotel, handpicked by curator Ana Stapleton.”
BECK BAMBINGER
From Hip to Historical, Two Outstanding Austin Hotels To Stay At This Summer
Forbes
When New Waterloo bought the iconic Wooten mansion in 2012, their mission was to modernize the property while honoring the rich history of the 100+ year old home, originally built by University of Texas founder Thomas Wooten as a wedding present to his son Goodall and daughter-in-law Ella. History and a sense of place inspired the renovation, a celebration of both legacy and fresh possibility.
Once the Michael Hsu/Studio MAI remodel was complete, the partners brought me in to add a final layer of warmth and detail. They asked what I might add that would both delight the guests and infuse the space with meaning. It could be anything: art supplies in the rooms as a nod to the Charles Umlauf sculptures installed across the property? Local artwork? Additional decor?
A visit to a small design studio led me to an uncanny discovery – a collection of mid-century sketches by the UT art professors hired by Charles Umlauf in the 1950’s and 60’s. With a tie to the university and history, these works made the mansion sing.
Among the collection of unframed sketches was a note saying “be right back” that Texas modernist Michael Frary left on the door of his figure drawing class when he went to get the model. We have the original note framed and hanging in the hotel.
I spotted an intriguing figure drawing in the back corner of a store, which turned out to be just one of a collection of original vintage sketches by UT Art department professors.
The rest of them were tucked safely away under the bed of an Austin collector who had had the foresight to acquire them. Was I interested in looking at them? I couldn’t believe my luck. I’d found the thing that would bring delight and meaning—original, beautiful vintage sketches by UT art department contemporaries of the legendary art department head Charles Umlauf.
We framed and installed the vintage art in the guest rooms, hallways, and dining room to highlight the historical relationship between the mansion and UT, using a mix of old and new frames on the vintage art and layering contemporary art in found frames from thrift stores and flea markets.
We laid 150+ pieces of art out on the ballroom floor to assess which works were the best fit for each room. Because the hotel is in an old mansion, each room has its own unique character.