César Manrique Foundation

It is not possible to understand Lanzarote without appreciating the work of the artist César Manrique, who left his unique stamp on the island.

César Manrique was born and brought up on Lanzarote, but travelled around the world, and in 1964 he moved to New York. He acquired a direct knowledge of the North American art of the 1960’s, which gave him an essential cultural insight which he later used in his own creations. In 1966 he went back to Lanzarote indefinitely. On the island he promoted a sustainable model of intervention on the environment safeguarding the natural and cultural heritage of the island.

As well as his commitment to the islands, Manrique opened up his creative work to other artistic expression. He devised a new aesthetic ideology which he called art-nature/nature-art. This new ideology is portrayed in his unique examples of public art in Spain, such as Jameos del Agua, the Mirador del Río viewpoint and the Jardín de Cactus garden.

In 1992 the César Manrique Foundation, a private cultural non-profitable institution, opened its doors. Its aim is to study, preserve and spread understanding of the work, artistic heritage, memory and masterly creations of César Manrique.

The building in which the Foundation is housed today consists of the artist’s house, which César Manrique himself turned into a museum.

The house was built on land over lava flow from the volcanic eruptions which took place in Lanzarote in the 19th Century. The building was constructed on two different levels over five large natural volcanic bubbles.

The top floor is inspired by the traditional architecture of Lanzarote as well as the introduction of modern and functional elements. The basement level uses five natural volcanic bubbles. In order to make the bubbles habitable, Manrique drilled holes through the basalt of the lava flow to connect them with each other.

The final room, towards the exit, used to be the old studio of the artist. This room currently exhibits some paintings by César Manrique in addition to temporary collections organised by the Foundation.