Elmar Rojas

Elmar René Rojas Azurdia (1942 in San Raymundo Peñafort, Guatemala – 18 February 2018), was a Guatemalan painter who served as the first Minister of Culture and Sports under the government of Vinicio Cerezo. Rojas practiced as an architect before studying art in Guatemala, Spain, France, and Italy. He funded Guatemala's Ministry of Culture and was the subject of many exhibitions in cities around the world. His art is seen as expressive of "magical realism" or "wonderful reality." His international awards include the Gran Premio Iberoamericano "Cristobal Colón," presented in Madrid, Spain in 1989. Rojas, one of Latin America's most important artists, was also renowned as a great communicator of culture. Rojas died on 18 February 2018 at the age of 76.