The Foundation was set up in 1993 by a group formed of the artists and collectors Yannick Vu and Ben Jakober and the philanthropist Georges Coulon Karlweis. In the same year, an old underground water reservoir on the Sa Bassa Blanca estate was adapted to make space for a special collection of children’s portraits from the sixteenth to nineteenth centuries.

From 1995 onwards, the foundation opened for its first visits from groups from the world of art and culture, until finally, in January 2001, it opened its doors to the general public on a permanent basis. From then on, visitors have been able to take part in guided tours so they can become familiar with the rooms and exhibitions, which have continued to multiply since it opened.

External areas will soon be added to the “Nins” room in the water reservoir: the Rose Garden and Sculpture Park which are so very characteristic of the Foundation, combining the pleasure of art with nature and open air.

In 2006, part of the main building designed by Hassan Fathy was opened to visitors: the Karlweis Wing, which is home to a collection of contemporary art and the Mudejar coffered ceiling on the last floor.

Finally, 2007 saw the addition of the exhibition areas called the “SoKraTES Room” and the Zoological area which is an extension of the Sculpture Park with enormous granite animals.