Efraín Bernal

During a March 14 official ceremony at the Colombian Embassy in Spain, Efraín Bernal, director of the Galería Bernal Espacio in Madrid, was recognized as Distinguished Colombian in Spain. This distinction granted by the Colombian Embassy "recognizes the work and talent of Colombian nationals and their contributions to the good name of Colombia." About the award, Efraín Bernal said: "I am very excited about this recognition. The image of Colombians is getting increasingly better. And this is also felt by those Colombians who, like me, have chosen to live abroad." Efraín Bernal has been living in Spain for 17 years. As a gallerist, he directed La Fábrica Galería between 2005 and 2012, a period during which he organized several solo shows in Madrid. Under his directorship La Fábrica Galería received the 2011 AECA Best Gallery Award granted by the Spanish Association of Art Critics. In 2013, Efraín Bernal opened his own space in the Spanish capital: the Galería Bernal Espacio. The inaugural exhibition consisted of twenty drawings by Colombian artist José Antonio Suárez-Londoño, who participated in the exhibition titled The Encyclopedic Palace of the Venice Biennial. During his profesional career, Efraín Bernal has written for the Arte en Colombia/ArtNexus magazine and organized the first exhibitions in Europe by Colombian artists like Óscar Muñoz and José Antonio Suárez-Londoño.