The
The Isla Negra Foundation (INF) was established in 1981 in New York with the mission to preserve and promote the work of a group of women from Isla Negra. Starting in 1969, under the mentorship of Leonor Sobrino, these women embroidered their inner worlds with needles and multicolored wool, creating extraordinary works of art. This non profit organization, led by Eduardo Vera Sobrino and supported by collaborators who deeply value the legacy of the Bordadoras de Isla Negra, currently holds a collection of over 40 embroideries. These pieces, featuring fabrics handpicked by their mentor, represent the creative diversity of their authors.
A significant part of this collection has been exhibited in major museums worldwide. Upon returning to Chile in 2016, the collection underwent a meticulous conservation process led by professionals from the Archivo Central Andrés Bello at the University of Chile. In 2019, marking a 50 year milestone, the works returned to the National Museum of Fine Arts (MNBA) for the successful exhibition Bordar el Desborde: Las Bordadoras de Isla Negra at the MNBA 1969 to 2019. Between 2020 and 2025, the exhibition has toured various cities across the country.
The task of preserving and sharing the work of the Bordadoras de Isla Negra ensures that this collection continues its outreach in Chile and abroad, before arriving at its permanent home in Isla Negra through the proyecto Casa Museo Bordadoras de Isla Negra (Bordadoras de Isla Negra House-Museum Project).
In Chile, the INF operates as part of the Eladio Sobrino Foundation, a non profit institution created in Isla Negra in 2010 to preserve and promote the historical, cultural, and environmental heritage of Isla Negra while strengthening its local identity.