Background
Esteban Lisa was born in Hinojosa de San Vicente, Toledo (Spain) on August 8, 1895.
Esteban Lisa was born in Hinojosa de San Vicente, Toledo (Spain) on August 8, 1895.
At the same time he completed his primary studies. He entered the Beato Angélico Art School, where he studied with Friar Guillermo Butler. He married the Doctor of Philosophy and Letters, Josefina Pierini.
He worked as a glass washer, then as a messenger - and later as a librarian - at Buenos Aires Central Post Office. He taught painting in the School for Adults, located at number 900 Serrano (Buenos Aires), and joined the Argentine Teachers" Union. His pictorial production continued almost uninterrupted from the 1930s until 1978, and was complemented by his studies of philosophy and science.
His mystic conception of life and art was to accompany him always: abstraction was his chosen means of visual communication.
He was not interested in following a career as an artist-painter, and perceived that his role in society would be not only to teach the techniques of painting, but also to contribute to the spiritual development of human beings, by carefully preserving his work for future generations. His short book: Kant, Einstein and Picasso, published in 1956, which he circulated among friends and cultural institutions, was to highlight his main preferences.
His literary production totals 14 books, written and published, including: The Theory of Cosmovision, and The Vision of Plato. Lisa owned an extensive library, comprising over 900 books on philosophy, oriental religions and art, which is now located in the headquarters of the Esteban Lisa Foundation.
In 1955, the year in which he retired from his official teaching duties, with the support of his disciples, Lisa founded his own center, known as the "Four Dimensions Modern Art School", located at 1966 Rivadavia, Buenos Aires.
His "Institute for Research into the Theory of Cosmovision" was opened later at 1535 Alsina. Between 1956 and 1979 Lisa gave numerous conferences in Buenos Aires, Montevideo, Paraná, Gualeguay and Azul on his Theory of Cosmovision, his means of uniting aesthetic experiences, ethics and modern science. He travelled to Spain to be reunited with his family in 1981.
He died in Buenos Aires on June 19, 1983.