Meet Juliana Bernal | Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Juliana Bernal and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Juliana, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
From my personal experience I credit my success to perseverance, dedication and definitely believing in myself. My family have been one of the most important supports in all my process. On the other hand, I must keep in mind that I am not only an artist but an entrepreneur in a business such as art, Where with the passage of time I realized how my interaction with art collectors, gallery owners and dealers is vital for my career. Where peace of mind is vital to be able to continue creating without obstacles.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am convinced that we all have a gift or a “super power” to share with this world or with ourselves. What sets me apart from others is that I decided to take a completely new path when I was 42 years old looking for an answer within myself. Communicating to many women that after 40 we are still alive and that we can do great things. I believed in myself and began to work with the sole purpose of feeling comfortable and fulfilled with myself and so I began to tell through my pieces about my motherhood.
I am proud to have been able to exhibit in Tokyo, to have been selected as the only Colombian to participate in the biennial of international paper artists in Shanghai for the second consecutive time.
My secret to get where I have arrived is not to give up when you have challenges. In the art world you meet many wonderful people and others who teach you to be stronger. And here is the success, don’t relapse, take a break, breathe and keep adjusting to what the universe is showing you.
One of the lessons I learned along the way was to go at the pace that life puts me. Many times we want everything to happen at a certain time or in a certain way and we realize that we only end up wasting energy and getting in the way of life. This was something that was hard for me to understand but when you apply it you let go and you can go on.
I want the world to know how important it is for me as an artist to preserve the manual/craft art and how for Latin women today the path of art is already echoing. Today we have technology which is wonderful but in a certain way it distances us from the sensitivity, from the human, from the manual/craft. When our hands are connected with our creativity we can achieve wonderful things, the result can be amazing and the message that we communicate with each of our pieces will have a special impact on each of the viewers.
My work has been questioned in my country because I work with paper, this has been one of the obstacles that I managed to overcome, along with the fact that I am an empirical artist and that somehow I did not belong to the guild. But incredibly it is because of this that I have left my mark internationally and in Colombia I have had a great support and welcome from incredible and very recognized artists. And this is something I am deeply grateful for today.
Today I also collect art and support several artists.
I want the world to know that my art is available to everyone, that they are unique pieces where each of my pieces is made 100% by me, I work without assistants because it is an introspection to my inner world.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I live in Bogota, Colombia, I studied industrial design in Madrid, Spain. Day 1-2: Bogota: Bogota is a big city with strong contrasts, unique people, plenty of gastronomic options, an active nightlife, villages and amazing landscapes.
We started in Bogota visiting a bit of our culture, visiting the gold museum, eating ajiaco which is a typical soup based on 3 different types of potatoes and chicken, with lulo juice which is my favorite.
Being surrounded by art and artists I would like to show this great world to my guest visiting the area of San Felipe where several artists’ workshops and galleries are located, the candelaria and relevant galleries in the city.

Explore the capital, visit the historic center,m, Monserrate for panoramic views and sample the local cuisine in La Candelaria.

Day 3-4: Medellín: Discover the city of eternal spring, visit the Arví Park, the Pueblito Paisa, the Museum of Antioquia and enjoy lunch at the Mercado del Río.

Day 5-6: Eje Cafetero: Immerse yourself in the coffee culture, visit a coffee farm, explore Salento and the Cocora Valley, taste the coffee and the local gastronomy.

Day 7: Cartagena: Enjoy the beaches, explore the Walled City, eat at street markets and experience the nightlife in Getsemaní.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Yes, my children and my husband have definitely been the greatest strength to have started this path at 40 years old when sometimes women are given to understand that after 40 we have done it all. My family believed in me, they have been there during the thousands of hours I have dedicated to my art, understanding that we have all had to make an effort since sometimes I have to spend weeks at a time in my workshop working. They have been involved to such an extent that my children have helped me with various works when I am in high demand. I also want to thank a great friend that I met when it all started and he was the one who made me believe that I was an artist. Since the word “artist” has always seemed to me “great” and of total admiration. This is where Ricardo Gaitan appeared with his words that I will never forget. “When you leave this office you must believe in yourself that you are an artist”.

Website: Www.julianabernalart.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/julianabernalart/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/julianabernalart