Introducing Marcelo Zimmler, Master’s in Management graduate and founder of Upsilon Gallery, which has four locations worldwide including office space in Miami, one gallery in London Mayfair, and two in New York. He takes us through his previous career in finance, why he made the move into the art world, and more importantly how he’s made a success of it!

Tell us about yourself:

After graduating from LSE, I went back to New York and registered my current company, Upsilon Gallery in February 2016.

I rented an apartment in Midtown, turned it into a showroom, and began trading from there.

For the first few years, my main specialty was in blue-chip prints and multiples, and once the business had grown to a certain size, I decided to open my first public gallery in early 2022 in Manhattan’s Upper East Side. I started working directly with artist studios and estates, from both the US and abroad.

Nowadays, the gallery trades in primary and secondary markets and publishes artist monographs, exhibition catalogues, and limited editions of fine art prints in close collaboration with represented artists.

Upsilon Gallery opened its first international outpost in London’s Mayfair in August 2024 – where LSE alumni were recently treated to an exclusive tour and networking evening!

What inspired you to get into the world of art after starting out in finance?

I actually started out in tech and had a brief stint in finance whilst completing my MSc in Management at LSE. I’ve always been interested in the arts, especially music, which I pursued in NYC while completing my Undergraduate studies at Pace University.

My love for the visual arts became more apparent after graduating from Pace. In early 2013, I attended an exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art, Inventing Abstraction, 1910-1925, which really changed me on a personal level and partly set me on the path that led me to where I am today.

Tell us about the opening of your new gallery, Upsilon London:

Located at 64 Grosvenor Street, Upsilon London, occupies approximately 3,000 sqft. over two floors, presenting a dynamic programme of exhibitions, talks, panel discussions, and book signings.

Continuing Upsilon’s mission to champion historically overlooked artists, the new gallery will also focus on nurturing new talent and amplifying marginalised voices within the art world.

The gallery aims to showcase artists lesser known in the UK, bringing them to global audiences.

Upsilon particularly focuses on European artists who have migrated to the US within movements such as Minimalism, Color Field, Pop, and Abstract Expressionism. Its vision is to cultivate transatlantic dialogue driven by quality, academic scholarship, and innovation. The Mayfair gallery will be led by Managing Director Nolan Browne, supported by Directors Jade Straker and Lana Ivanyukhina.

What are your future plans with the gallery?

I will keep growing Upsilon until we reach “mega” status, meaning we’ve accomplished an established position in every major art market in the world. I will remain CEO for the foreseeable future, and eventually start exploring new business opportunities in complementary industries.

What advice would you give to LSE graduates thinking of transitioning careers?

Go for it, it’s never too late.

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