When his children have finished school, and about to return with his family to Argentina for good, Distéfano weighs his time in Europe, gathered in an article written by critic Elba Pérez. Living in Barcelona, he sees Catalan artistic environment as local and endogamic, although he admits to the blinding effect that the romantic art of the region has had in him. He also praises the appearance of a new-fangled realism in the artists from Madrid, and he highlights the work by painter Antonio López García and sculptor Luis Doñate.
With a very favourable reception, he holds an individual exhibition called Juan Carlos Distéfano, esculturas 1976-1980 (Juan Carlos Distéfano, sculptures 1976-1980) at Jacques Martínez gallery in Buenos Aires between 27 August and 20 September. He shows fifteen works among which are Nude. The same elsewhere, Nude. With or without Reason–both from 1977–, Icarus I and II, King and Queen I and II, Yellow Head, Self-portrait, On a road I –all from 1978–, Jump, On the Swing, Person, and the first version of The river at Sunset