César Manrique

César Manrique (1919 - 1992) was an artist and an architect.

Biography

Manrique was born in Arrecife, Lanzarote. He fought in the Spanish Civil War as a volunteer in the artillery unit on Franco's side. He attended the University of La Laguna to study architecture, but after two years he quit his studies. He moved to Madrid in 1945 and received a scholarship for the Art School of San Fernando, where he graduated as a teacher of art and painting. Between 1964 and 1966 he lived in New York City, where a grant from Nelson Rockefeller allowed him to rent his own studio. He painted many works here, which were exhibited in the prestigious "Catherine Viviano" gallery.

Manrique had a major influence on the planning regulations in Lanzarote, when he recognised its tourist potential and lobbied successfully to encourage sympathetic development of tourism. One aspect of this is the lack of high rise hotels on the island. Those that are there are in keeping with the use of traditional colours in their exterior decoration.

Manrique died in a car accident at Tahíche, Teguise, very near his Lanzarote home, in 1992. He was aged 73.