In the 1980s Basterretxea was the Culture Councillor for the Basque Government for two years. Towards the end of that decade, he created two of his best known works: La Paloma de Paz (Peace Dove). It was installed in la Zurriola, Donostia (San Sebastian) and later on moved to a roundabout outside the Anoeta Stadium of the same city. In 1989, he created the Monument to the Basque Shepherd. It was installed in Reno, Atlanta. 