Born in Apple River, Illinois on June 10, 1871, Julia Began her art studies a the Art Institute of Chicago in 1868 and for five years, was assistant to Lorado Taft, who was working on sculpture commissions for the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. She married painter William Wendt in 1906 and moved to Los Angeles where they bought the former studio-cottage of Marion and Elmer Wachtel at 2814 N. Sichel Street. In 1912 the Wendts built a studio-home in Laguna Beach, however Julia maintained her studio in Los Angeles where she did most of her sculpting. During 1918-1925 she was on the faculty at the Otis Art Institute. Equally skilled in bronze, wood and marble, her specialties were bas-relief portrait medallions and fountain figures. Having achieved a national reputation as one of America's finest sculptors Mrs. Wendt died in Laguna Beach on June 22, 1942.

Biography courtesy of DeRu's Fine Arts, www.antiquesandfineart.com/derus