As part of the initiatives that INAV has been carrying out with the aim of expanding and promoting national illustration, the publication of Uruguay Ilustra 2023 brings together the work of 32 Uruguayan illustrators.
“Uruguay’s history is marked by outstanding works and figures in the fields of graphic design and illustration, an extensive list that grows year by year. However, the field of illustration faces an urgent need to continue expanding its visibility. It does so through original creative work and a commitment to professionalization by strengthening opportunities for exchange. These factors enable collaboration within the sector,” states the MEC publication.
In this context, we are sharing the work of the 12 illustrators who have graduated from Universidad ORT Uruguay, and we invite you to support them and follow them on social media:
Alfonso Lourido
An author, illustrator,and visual artist with a Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design from Universidad ORT Uruguay, his style is characterized by narrative and a wide range of creative approaches. Lourido has founded his own graphic design studio and has also served as art director and creative director at multinational advertising agencies such as McCann and TBWA.
View this post on Instagram
He currently runs Carajito Films, his own production company, where he develops film and advertising projects for an international audience. His professional career has focused primarily on the American and European markets. Throughout his career, he has received numerous awards and accolades for his work across various fields, including art, illustration, creativity, and film. His work has been exhibited in renowned Uruguayan galleries and museums.
- You might also be interested in reading: "New Recognition for La Roca y el Mar"
Álvaro Zunini
An artist with a bachelor’s degree in graphic design from Universidad ORT Uruguay, he began his career as an illustrator working in advertising at various agencies in Uruguay and Argentina. In Mexico, he was selected for two painting biennials at the Tamayo Museum of Contemporary Art and won the National Young Artist Award in the state of Aguascalientes. In that country, his work has been exhibited in museums and galleries in Mexico City, Monterrey, Oaxaca, Querétaro, and San Luis Potosí.
In Uruguay, he has exhibited his illustrations at the Gallino Museum, the Subte Exhibition Center, the Contemporary Art Space, the Pablo Atchugarry Foundation, and the National Museum of Visual Arts. In December 2022, Zunini received the 8th Illustration Award in the “Category B: Single Illustration” category and, “for his social commitment, ability to inspire others, and vision for taking design to a new level of action,” he received the 2022 Award for Creativity and Innovation. He is currently working on film and publishing projects for Uruguay, Argentina, Mexico, and the United States.
Are you interested in illustration and design?
Learn about the Bachelor’s Degree in Graphic Design
Mª Cecilia Rodríguez Oddone (Ceciro)
A multidisciplinary artist with a Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design from Universidad ORT Uruguay. She has primarily worked in the fields of mural art, illustration, and screen printing on paper. Her current artistic exploration and inspiration focus on the formal and symbolic language of ecofeminism.
View this post on Instagram
In 2019, she was selected for the Illustrators Exhibition at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair in Italy, and in 2020, she was selected for the Irudika International Professional Illustration Conference in the Basque Country. In 2021, she was selected for the Chen Bochui International Children’s Literature Award in Shanghai, China. Additionally, Ceciro has participated in urban art festivals in Colombia, France, Brazil, Spain, Italy, and Uruguay. She is a member of the Casa Wang collective, an artists’ studio in Montevideo.
- You might also be interested in reading: "20 Uruguayan (and contemporary) artists to keep an eye on"
Daniel Scharf (Dani)
He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design from Universidad ORT Uruguay. He worked in the advertising industry for years, where he came to understand the importance of conceptualizing ideas. His passion for printmaking is clearly evident in his style, and he believes in the power of illustration across all formats.
View this post on Instagram
Dani Scharf’s work has been exhibited in Argentina, China, Chile, Spain, Japan, Italy, Mexico, Peru, Portugal, the United States, and Uruguay. The prestigious magazine Lürzer’s Archive has named him three times as one of the 200 best illustrators in the world (200 Best Illustrators Worldwide). In 2018, he was selected by the Bologna Children’s Book Fair in Italy; in 2019, by the China Shanghai International Children’s Book Fair; and in 2020, he won third prize at the Chen Bochui International Children’s Literature Award, again in China.
Are you interested in the world of illustration and graphic design?
Learn about the Bachelor’s Degree in Graphic Design
Alfonso Rosso
Bachelor of Industrial Design from Universidad ORT Uruguay. Passionate about drawing and illustration, he began exploring new horizons and pushing the boundaries of design over a decade ago. He currently works as a freelancer in various fields related to this art form: publishing, advertising, animation, and video games.
View this post on Instagram
- You might also be interested in reading: "The 10 Most Valuable Digital Artworks Ever Sold"
Juan Pablo Palarino
He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design from Universidad ORT Uruguay. He has built his career as a designer and illustrator in Montevideo, where he has lived since 2010. After graduating, he joined the Mundial design studio and specialized in developing brand identities, incorporating illustration as a communication tool for local businesses.
View this post on Instagram
She has also created illustrations for the music, fashion, and literary industries, as well as for branding projects, working with both national and international brands. Her primary focus in illustration is the combination of techniques, seeking to develop a hybrid, analog-digital style through a back-and-forth process involving paper, oil pastels, ink, and the computer.
Are you interested in the world of illustration and graphic design?
Learn about the Bachelor’s Degree in Graphic Design
Juan Manuel Díaz Del Pino (JuanMa Díaz)
He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design from Universidad ORT Uruguay. He studied painting in the studios of masters Guillermo Fernández and Álvaro Amengual. He currently works as an illustrator and designer, creates books from concept to completion, and collaborates with publishers, design studios, animation, and video game.
View this post on Instagram
JuanMa Díaz is an active member of the Uruguayan illustrators’ collective Iluyos. Throughout his career, he has received numerous awards, both in Uruguay and abroad, including: first prize in the Children’s and Young Adult Literature category of the 8th Illustration Award (2021–2022), selection for the Iberoamérica Ilustra catalog (2022), third prize in the Children’s and Young Adult Literature category of the 5th Illustration Award (2018–2019), and first prize in the Children’s and Young Adult Literature category of the 1st Illustration Award (2014).
- You might also be interested in reading: "Why is 2023 the year of tech arts?"
María Lucía Boiani (Lu Boiani)
She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design from Universidad ORT Uruguay. She honed her skills while learning book design at the HUM Publishing House, where she has worked since 2012. In total, she has designed more than 150 book covers for various Uruguayan and multinational publishers. She has also contributed illustrations to the magazines Lento, Tribu, Sotobosque, and ERM, as well as to the blog Mirá mamá. She has also participated in group exhibitions of design and graphic arts.
View this post on Instagram
She received honorable mentions in the poster competitions of the National Crafts Award and the Montevideo International Book Fair. She has exhibited at the Bolivia Poster Biennial, Uruguay Cartel, “Illustrating to Discover the Mind,” and “Posters for LGBT Rights.” Additionally, she was a partner at Estudio Clave (2020–2021), a studio dedicated to cultural and social design. In 2021, she participated in the mentorship program of the Uruguayan Ministry of Education and Culture. A selection of her work was featured in the solo exhibition “Arte de tapa” (2022).
Are you interested in the world of illustration and graphic design?
Learn about the Bachelor’s Degree in Graphic Design
Lucia Franco
She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design from Universidad ORT Uruguay. Since 2002, she has worked at various studios, agencies, and publishing houses as an art director, where she began to specialize in editorial design and illustration. Between 2013 and 2017, she lived in the United States and worked as a freelance illustrator.
View this post on Instagram
He has participated in numerous competitions and solo and group exhibitions in Uruguay and abroad, as well as in various publications, illustrating articles, book covers, album covers, product packaging, and children’s stories for Uruguay, Argentina, Mexico, Spain, France, and the United States.
- You might also be interested in reading: "What Is Creativity and How to Develop It"
Maria Eugenia Perez Burger
An artist with a Master’s degree in Visual Arts and Design from Seoul National University (South Korea) and a Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design from Universidad ORT Uruguay. She currently teaches at our university’s School of Design. Through her multimedia work, she explores the dialogue between concept and moving image.
View this post on Instagram
He combined his academic training with his professional practice, engaging with the audiovisual world through design, illustration, post-production, and animation. By blending the social value of design with the medium, he works independently on cultural, editorial, corporate, and academic projects. He participates in solo and group exhibitions, both nationally and internationally, which explore themes of social and intercultural critique.
Matías Acosta Cattolica
He holds a degree in Digital Animation from Universidad ORT Uruguay and a degree in Film Production, with a specialization in post-production and sound, from the Uruguayan Film School.
View this post on Instagram
As an illustrator, he focuses primarily on children’s and young adult literature, as well as creating his own books as a writer and illustrator. His first book of this kind was published by Piboco (Denmark) in 2020, and his second, *Las visitas del verano*, was published in 2021 by Baobab Books (Switzerland). He has received several awards and honors, both in Uruguay and abroad.
- You might also be interested in reading: "Uruguayan Video Games: The History and Current State of a Huge Industry"
Leonardo Silva Beguiristain (Silva Bros.)
He holds a degree in Digital Animation from Universidad ORT Uruguay and is a self-taught illustrator, teacher, and freelancer working as an art director and animator. He received honorable mentions in the José Artigas Poster Competition and the Illustration Award from the Uruguayan Ministry of Education and Culture.
View this post on Instagram
He received funding from Uruguay's Competitive Fund for Culture for his projects: Prócer Zombie (2015), Prócer Zombie II (2017), and Prócer Zombie: Redemption (2021).
Are you interested in the world of animation?
Learn about the Bachelor’s Degree in Animation and Video Games
Andrés Silva Beguiristain (Silva Bros.)
He holds a bachelor's degree in graphic design from Universidad ORT Uruguay is a self-taught illustrator.
View this post on Instagram
He won first place in the Children’s and Young Adult Fiction category at the 1st Illustration Award (2014) organized by the Uruguayan Ministry of Education and Culture, and third place in 2015 and 2016. In 2022, he published The King of Mushrooms, a children’s audiobook selected by the Competitive Fund for Culture.