Visual artist César Romero dies of choking at age 74

Abstract Visual artist César Romero, a leading figure in the visual arts in Bahia and with a career spanning more than 50 years portraying the Northeast, died at the age of 74 in Salvador after choking while eating.

César Romero praised Northeastern culture in his plays

Photo: Disclosure

Visual artist César Romero died on Tuesday night, the 7th, at the age of 74, in Salvador, Bahia. According to the Civil Police, neighbors reported that the artist was eating with the help of a caregiver when he choked. The Mobile Emergency Care Service (SAMU) was called and attempted resuscitation, but without success.

César Romero began his artistic career as a painter in 1967, and later diversified his activities into several areas: he worked as a graphic designer and columnist, having written about art in several newspapers in Bahia since the 1970s. Romero also sang, having released an album with re-recordings of MPB songs.

The artist was a native of Feira de Santana, Bahia's second-largest city, located 100 km from the capital. The city government issued a statement mourning Romero's passing. In it, the administration said that César Romero was "one of the most representative names in Bahia's visual arts and leaves behind an artistic and cultural legacy of great significance for the city and the country."

A list from Itaú Cultural shows that Romero participated in at least 40 group exhibitions during his career, between 1971 and 2002. These include international exhibitions in the United States, Germany, Spain and others.

Romero alone has signed seven exhibitions, all on Brazilian soil.

The Bahia State Department of Culture (Secult-BA) also mourned the artist's death. The department highlighted the recognition Romero received throughout his career, which focused on promoting Northeastern culture. He received numerous national and international awards and served on the jury for some of them.

"With his unique use of color, Romero's art celebrated popular festivals and Afro-Brazilian religiosity, as well as expressed his pride in the backlands through engraving, drawing, and illustration. Throughout his more than 50-year career, he portrayed the Northeast in his works," wrote Secult-BA.