# Matanzas poet and artist Rolando Estévez Jordán passed away

**Date:** 01/21/2023

Poet Rolando Estévez Jordán, National Prize for Book Design, passed away last night, January 17, 2023, in the land he loved so dearly, victim of a painful illness. His body is being laid out at a funeral home in the city of Matanzas and the burial will take place at 11:00 in the morning today at San Carlos Borromeo cemetery, in the city of Matanzas.

A writer, playwright, visual artist and director of El Fortín editions, he was born on December 1, 1953. His artistic work as founder of Vigía Editions and author of about twenty collections of poems was of unforgettable significance, among which stand out El dios tardío, Arte y Literatura collection, La Habana, 1989 and Oráculo en bandeja de aluminio, Ediciones Matanzas, 2020.

His plastic work stood out for its passion and beauty. His oil paintings are exhibited in the United States, Mexico, Spain, France, Canada and other countries. He created cover illustrations and design. He painted for books by Cuban and American authors published here and abroad. He was an honorary professor at the University of Michigan and at the Association of Craftspeople and Artists in his hometown.

He received numerous recognitions, among which stand out the Distinction for National Culture; the Amicus Polonial, Raúl Gómez García and National Vanguard of the Culture Union medals; the Merit Artist Diploma granted by the national Board of the ACAA and the Ministry of Culture; the distinction El Quinqué de Vigía; the Brene Prize and the 60th Anniversary Seal of the UNEAC.

To Rolando Estévez Jordán, writer of poems and chronicles, painter of books, paintings and murals, actor, designer of theatrical works, editor and cultural promoter; to Estévez, cultured and generous man, giver of affection, passionate, combative, Cuba and the city where he lived a productive existence of almost seven decades dedicate their most heartfelt tribute at the moment of his departure as an illustrious figure of Cuban art.

We regret this painful loss for our national culture and offer our condolences to his daughter Lucre, to Samuel, to Miriam, along with family and friends.