At age 16 Marcelo began exhibiting his work as part of group shows. This he accomplished without formal art training. Driven by a passion for drawing and the encouragement of his uncle, at an early age he explored his interest in colour through the use of watercolours, pastels and coloured pencil. Later he completed a course in art at the Catholic University in Santiago. His early works were heavily focused on religious themes, influenced by colonial baroque artists such as Bolivian Master of Calamarca, Peruvian Holguin and Italian Bitti among others. This first phase in his career lasted more than five years. Then, he discovered the force and the language of colour. Later his influence came mainly from Brueguel, Bosch, Carrington, Dali, Kahlo and Borda to name a few. This led to a second phase which he calls the “apocalypse” phase and subsequently the “altiplano magico” phase. For years Marcelo has been engaged in the exploration of another symbolic language. The repetition of the Bolivian altiplano landscape is evident in his work. This is the landscape of his childhood and the memory of the scenery haunts him – it is magical with great power and energy. The images in Marcelo’s paintings are at the same time whimsical, complex, absurd and surreal. These images appear to him at moments throughout the day and he is compelled to record them as sketches in order not to lose the phantasm.

Gallery THEO is founded in Seoul, South Korea in 2020. The priority mission of THEO is to establish a sustainable art cycle rooted in diversity. THEO was established by two directors who have built their careers in the art markets of the UK and the US, bringing their international expertise and networks to the Korean art scene. The primary objective of Gallery THEO is to showcase the wide-ranging spectrum of Korean art and its richness. The gallery is dedicated to supporting young and gifted Korean artists, regardless of artistic genres, and identifying the commercial potential in their work. By providing a platform for these artists, the gallery aims to foster their growth and development within the rapidly evolving art ecosystem. In addition to promoting local artists, Gallery THEO actively seeks to encourage diversity and bridge cultural boundaries. The gallery accomplishes this by establishing strong relationships with relevant institutions and collaborations with galleries both locally and internationally. By engaged in collaborations with artists and directors from various backgrounds, Gallery THEO strives to introduce international artists to Korean and Asian audiences, thereby promoting cross-cultural exchange and expanding the artistic discourse. Through challenging projects and a commitment to artists excellence, Gallery THEO envisions a gallery space that can co-exist and thrive alongside art creators, adapting to the dynamic art landscape.