Isabel Echarri, born in Vera de Bidasoa in 1929 and a lifelong resident of Formentera in the Balearic Islands, passed away quietly in her sleep at home near Sant Francesc. Reports confirm that her passing was due to a cardiac arrest around early morning hours, and her family is preparing for a civil farewell on the island in the coming days. Her daughter, Inés Echetverry, conveyed the family’s sorrow to Diario de Ibiza, noting the communal plan for a modest farewell on Formentera next week.
Throughout her extensive career, Isabel Echarri represented a distinctive strand of modern European art known for its luminous exploration of form and light. In recognition of her long and influential career, the Balearic Government awarded her the Ramon Llull Award, a tribute she could not personally receive due to mobility constraints. Elena Ruiz, a trusted friend and director of the Ibiza Museum of Contemporary Art, accepted the prize on her behalf. Soon after, the head of the Balearic Government joined the celebration in Formentera, alongside local officials, for a ceremonial delivery of the award on the island.
Her most recent works are featured in Botino Can Lobby, a project spearheaded by the Museum of Contemporary Art (MACE) with the aim of presenting Echarri’s signature pieces beyond the walls of a traditional Ibizan gallery and into broader public spaces, highlighting her enduring impact on contemporary art in the region.
Isabel Echarri’s life was inseparable from art and creative pursuit. She cultivated a practice that reflected a steadfast commitment to her projects, shaping a body of work characterized by personal vision, craftsmanship, and a persistent curiosity that guided her through decades of artistic exploration.
Her husband, Diego Echetverry, passed away in Formentera earlier in the year after a prolonged illness that required extended hospital care. He had been able to spend his final days at home with family after a difficult prognosis, marking a quiet close to a shared journey on the island. The couple began spending extended periods on Formentera in the early 1960s, and the island became a central hub for Isabel’s artistic practice. Her workshop there served as the birthplace of much of her creation, a space where ideas flourished and plans took tangible shape, contributing deeply to the island’s cultural landscape.