Prominent and renowned painter, advertising and animation illustrator, cartoonist and comic artist Cecilio Avilés passes away, the father of Cecilín and Coti

March 20, 2022

Prominent and renowned painter, advertising and animation illustrator, cartoonist and comic artist Cecilio Avilés Montalvo passed away this Sunday in La Habana, according to several friends and family members who posted on Facebook.

A member of the Unión de Periodistas de Cuba and UNEAC, he received the National Award for Community Culture in 2010. He was one of the most popular drawing and comics artists among Cuban readers of all ages and creator of the well-liked characters "Cecilín" and "Coti", among many other cartoons.

Journalist José Dos Santos, former first vice president of Upec, commented on Facebook about Cecilio.

"Excellent artist of visual arts and graphic journalism, as well as an affable person, full of ideas that we shared on many occasions during my time at UPEC. On more than one occasion I suggested that he compile his Wednesday contributions to Buenos Días, of great didactic value, to gather them in a volume as an introduction to cartooning. I hope he did it or that someone does it for its value as training for future followers of that complex though apparently simple art, of which he was a master".

The presidency of the Unión de Periodistas de Cuba extends its most sincere condolences to the family and friends of Cecilio Avilés.