Career
He was one of the leading designers of revolutionary Cuban film and political posters through his work for the Instituto Cubano del Arte e Industria Cinematográficos, Organisation for Solidarity with the People of Africa, Asia and Latin America, Casa de las Americas, Comisión de Orientación Revolucionaria and other Cuban agencies. Referencing popular art and psychedelic poster art, Rostgaard"s work also includes figurative painting and Warhol-esq commercial graphics. The majority of his designs are playful and fun, a product of the artist"s ability to incorporate a sense of humour into sometimes very serious subjects.
He is one of the most prolific of the revolutionary designers that contributed to Cuba"s massive output of posters during the mid 60s to mid 70s.
Born in Guantanamo in 1943 Rostgaard studied at the Jose Joaquin Tejada school of art in Santiago de Cuba. In 1963 he was appointed artistic director of Mella, the magazine of the union of young communists.
He also acted as caricaturist for the magazine where he learned to mix humour and politics. After arriving in Havana in 1965 he began designing posters for the ICAIC and became artistic director of OSPAAAL in 1966 where he resided for nine years.
From 1975 he worked for UNEAC, the Union of Cuban Writers and Artists.
As well as posters he has also designed book and magazine covers and layouts. Rostgaard died in Havana on December 27, 2004.
