Ildefonso Aguilar, who lives and works on Lanzarote, is considered one of the most significant representatives of the ecological movement on the island. His deep connection to the unique landscape of the island is reflected in his paintings, musical compositions, and architectural artworks. At the heart of his paintings are the four classical elements—fire, water, air, and earth. In addition to acrylic paint, he also uses natural materials such as volcanic ash and sand to capture the essence of the landscape.
A particularly noteworthy aspect of Aguilar’s work is his sand technique, which makes him one of the few artists to apply this method in both paintings and photography. He layers fine sand in multiple stages, gradually shaping landscapes that evoke the volcanic terrains of Lanzarote or Iceland.
1945 born in Salamanca
1946 Comes to Lanzarote at the age of one
1963 to 1968 Studies at the School of Fine Arts of Santa Cruz de Tenerife
1970 to 1976 Teacher at the School of Art in Arrecife de Lanzarote
Various audiovisual productions on
Lanzarote, with photography, sound and video
1978 to 1980 Travels to different countries and
audiovisual recordings of music
1968 and 1985 Director of the Department of Culture of the Cabildo of Lanzarote
2012 Appointed Academy Member of the Royal Canary Islands Academy of Fine Arts San Miquel
Solo exhibitions (selection)
2019: Flow Fine Art Gallery in Leverkusen, Germany
2017: García de Diego Gallery on La Palma, Spain, as well as at TEA Tenerife Espacio de las Artes in Tenerife, Spain
2016: AP Gallery in Madrid, Spain
2015: Flow Fine Art Gallery in Leverkusen, Germany
2010: The Appearance Of Landscapes in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
2009 “Fragments of landscapes”, Gallery Reitz, Cologne (D)
2007 “Entre Islas” (between the islands), Gallery Argenta, Valencia (ES)
“Entre Islas”, Gallery Krabbe, Frigiliana,
Málaga (ES)
2005 “essential landscape” Gallery Edurne,
Madrid (ES)
2004 “Senderos” (hiking trails), Gallery Argenta, Valencia (ES)
2003 Sala Conca, La Laguna, Teneriffa (ES)
1998 Gallery Am Domplatz, Münster (D)
Art Forum Riehen, Riehen (CH)
Kraftwerk Augst AG, Gallery 45, Augst (CH)
Arco ’98 (Arte Contemporáneo – contemporary art fair), Conca-Saal,
Madrid (ES)
1996 Gallery im Alten Schloss, Wehr (D)
1995 Gallery El Aljibe, El Almacén, Lanzarote (ES)
1992 Gallery Attiir, La Palma, Gran Canaria (ES)
1990 Center for modern art, Mont de Marsan (F)
1980 Gallery Limbach, Cologne (D)
1975 Casa de Colón (Kolumbushouse), Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ES)
Group exhibitions (selection)
2010 “El Color de la Pintura” (the colour of painting), Gallery Mácula, Santa Cruz de Tenerife (ES)
2009 “Duende” (Elfe),with the artists Arne Haugen Sorensen, Antonio Valverde und Perry Oliver, Holsterbo und Thisted (DK)
2005 “Identidades” (identities), Gallery Edurne, Madrid (ES)
2004 Palacio de Santa Cruz, Valladolid (ES)
2003 “La Ciudad y los Artistas” (the city and the artists), II Lanzaroter Biennale (ES)
2000 opening exhebitions of Museo del Paisaje Español Contemporáneo, Priego de Córdoba (ES)
1998 “Ciento y más postalicas a: Frederico Garcia Lorca”, Museo de la Casa de la Moneda,
Madrid (ES)
1989 “The art of the 20th century and its techniques”, Mönchehaus-Museum, Goslar (D)
1985 Arte Actual de Canarias, Madeira (POR)
Collections (selection)
– Collection, Angela Reitz, Riehen, (CH)
– Museum for modern Art, Goslar, (D)
– Patrimonio Nacional, Madrid, (ES)
