Gloria Oyarzabal

Spanish visual artist and photographer, currently living between Madrid and Asturias, where she develops her profession in her own studio. She also works in different countries of the African continent such as Mali, Ghana, Nigeria, Tanzania and Nigeria.
Graduated in Restoration and Conservation of Works of Art (1993), working in restoration studios, museums and churches until 2008.Degree in Fine Arts at Complutense University of Madrid (1998).Master in Creation and Development of Photographic Projects at Blankpaper School of Photography (Madrid 2014-15).She has participated in several creative workshops with Karen Knorr, Ouka Lele, Cabello y Carceller, Rogelio López Cuenca, Itziar Ocáriz, …
Programmer and co-founder of the independant Cinema "La Enana Marrón" in Madrid (1999-2009) dedicated to the diffusion of auteur, experimental and alternative cinema. She diversifies her professional activity between cinema, photography and teaching.Professor of Architectural Form Analysis at IADE-Instituto Artístico de Enseñanza in Madrid (2000-09), of Photographic Project Development and Curatorship at IED Istituto Europeo di Design, at Lens School of Photography, TAI University School of Arts, PHOTOESPAÑA Photography Master and occasional collaborations in various institutions such as Bard College (USA) and CAMPO Fotolibros (Argentina).Lived 3 years in Mali (2009-2012) working in the shooting and editing of the experimental documentary 'CC1682' by David Reznak with whom she has been collaborating for more than 20 years. During those years she developed her interest and research in the construction of the African imaginary, the processes of colonization/decolonization, the new strategies of colonialism and the diverse voices around African feminisms.
After her Master at Blankpaper School of Photography, her work is shown, among others, at FOTOFESTIWAL(Lodz,Pl), FORMAT(Derby, UK), ORGAN VIDA(Zagreb, Cr), KaunasFoto (Lith), PHE PhotoEspaña(Madrid, Sp), Athens Photo (Gr), LagosFoto (Nig), Museum of Photography Thessaloniki (Gr), SIPF Singapore International Photo Festival, Photo Marseille(Fr), Odessa Foto Days(Ukr), Biennale Für Aktuelle Fotografie (Mannheim, De), Helsinki Foto (Fin), Copenhague Photo (Den), FIFBH- Festival Internacional de Belo Horizonte (Br).... In 2017 she’s artist-in-residence at Ranchito Matadero Nigeria/South Africa between Madrid and Art House Foundation Lagos (Nigeria)developing her research on the colonization of the concept of woman. In 2022 she is invited by Gallerie 21(Hamburg) for an artist residency, and at Fondazione Orestiadi (Sicily). She has published two photobooks: PICNOS TSHOMBÉ which received the Landskrona Photobook Award 2017 (Sweden), and WOMAN GO NO’GREE which was awarded with VEVEY IMAGES Photobook Award and APERTURE PARIS PHOTO Best Photobook of the Year 2020
She has been nominated to the Prix Elysée 2022-2024 (Switxerland) and the Foam Paul Huff Arad ((Netherlands). Her work has been recognized by severals awards as PASSEPARTOUT Photo Prize 2024, Fotografía Europea Award 2022 (Reggia Emilia, Italy) Fotofestiwal Lodz Grand Prix 2019 (Poland), Encontros Da Imagem Discovery Award 2018 (Braga, Portugal) , PHOTOMED 1st Prize 2019, Meitar Award for Excellence in Photography PHOTO IS:RAEL 2019 (Tel Aviv, Israel), PhotoChronicles Portrait Award 2019,.. She was shortlisted at open calls as ENAIRE Photo Awards 2023 (Spain). APERTURE Foundation Portfolio Prize 2020 (NY, EEUU). PHOTOGRAPHIC MUSEUM OF HUMANITY Women Photographers Grant Finalist 2023 and 2019.
Her projects have appeared in several prestigious international publications such as FOAM (Netherlands), M Le Monde (Fr), L’INTERNAZIONALE (It), APERTURE (USA), EXIT(Sp), PAPIERS(Fr), OVER(Irl), BALAM(Arg), THE ART MOMENTUM, THE HUFFINGTON POST(UK), CLAN, TONGUES, THE CORRESPONDENT (Netherlands), METEOR(Geneva), LUR Plataforma de Pensamiento y Fotografía (Sp), VIST, Royal Photographic Society (UK)....