Dalita Navarro, artist and widow of former Colombian President Belisario Betancur, dies at 81

Colombian cultural circles are mourning the loss of Dalita Navarro, a Venezuelan-born artist and cultural manager who died in Bogotá at 81. Navarro, who was also the second wife of former Colombian President Belisario Betancur, was a prominent figure in contemporary ceramics. Her artistic creations drew inspiration from nature and the earth, and she was recognized for her significant contributions to the cultural landscape.

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Dalita Navarro: the overwhelming force of a free, coherent, and infinite soul. Artist, cultural manager, woman of women. My friend. Rest in peace.

Beyond her artistic endeavors, Navarro was a dedicated cultural promoter. She led the Venezuelan Cultural Center at the Venezuelan Embassy in Colombia, fostering cultural exchange between the two nations. In Barichara, Santander, she collaborated with Betancur to establish the Barichara Workshop School, an institution focused on preserving and teaching traditional crafts. She also championed the Barichara Ceramics Museum, which showcases works by national and international artists, cementing its status as a key cultural hub in the region.

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Dalita Navarro, an endearing Venezuelan artist and cultural manager of 81 years, who was the second wife of former President Belisario Betancur, has just passed away in Bogotá. She will be greatly missed. A warm hug to her family.

News of Navarro's passing was shared by Martha Ortiz, former director of the Museum of Modern Art of Bogotá, who remembered her as "a force of nature, a free, coherent, and infinite soul." Cartoonist Vladdo noted her "endearing" nature and sent condolences to her family. Former President Iván Duque expressed his sorrow, recalling Navarro's "character, sweetness, sense of humor, and immense love for Colombia."

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I receive with immense pain the passing of Dalita Navarro, widow of former President Belisario Betancur. I shared with her on multiple occasions and will always remember her character, her sweetness, her sense of humor, and her immense love for Colombia. My solidarity with all her loved ones.