On developing a point of view, creating meaningful experiences, and finding beauty in the things that endure.

Art advisor and founder of Rococo and Rococinco, Maria Vogel has built her career around bringing people, art, food, and ideas together. Her approach is rooted in curiosity and a deep appreciation for the details that make an experience feel personal, from the quirks of an artist’s studio to the atmosphere of a beloved restaurant.

For Maria, developing a point of view means tuning out the noise and staying true to what feels meaningful, whether that’s a piece of art, a favorite place, or a familiar scent. Here, she shares her perspective on personal taste, the sensory details that make us feel at home, and why true luxury is found in moving through life at a slower pace.

You’ve built your career around connecting people with art, but so much of what you do extends beyond the artwork itself. What draws you to creating experiences around art?


After experiencing art in all its many forms and presentations for years, I became interested in extending the experience to others. Creating human touch points that bring the stories of artworks to life is not only the most personal way to interact with art, it’s the relationship building blocks that can change your perception of the art form and the industry. To me, this is fundamental to more individuals partaking in the ecosystem.


You’ve described Rococinco as a place where art, food, connection, and storytelling come together. What do you think makes an experience truly memorable?


The container of the space and the people filling it. I always put significant attention on the feeling behind each choice: how one feels entering a specific place, the ambience that welcomes them in, the treat they can enjoy to enhance the experience, and the artists guests are being introduced to. Leading with this rather than the typical line items of event production is where I find the magic.


"how one feels entering a specific place, the ambience that welcomes them in ..."

You have such a strong eye for the details that shape an environment, from the artists and food to the spaces you choose. What are some of the small details you always notice that other people might overlook?


I notice quirks and idiosyncrasies. When I’m in an artist’s studio, I often find myself just as drawn to their style of note taking and the way they organize their paints as I am to the work itself. An art practice is the sum total of the person, so it’s all of interest to me. On a more day to day basis, I’m constantly finding unexpected features on the buildings in my Brooklyn neighborhood: a specific section of molding, the way the iron of the front staircase twists and turns, or the carved elements inlaid in the buildings. I think that no matter where you are, there’s an endless amount of details to continually train your eye to uncover.

You’re drawn to timeless things that you can keep coming back to. How do you think about personal taste, and how has yours evolved over time?


Personal taste is just that, it’s personal. Tuning out others’ preferences, opinions, and styles is the only way to truly develop your own taste. Over time, my own taste has evolved to be more sincere to who I am, as I’ve gotten better at doing just this—tuning out the noise and aligning with what is true to me.


"My fiancé’s typical scent of patchouli. When I smell him I feel at home.
"

What are some of the sensory details that instantly transport you somewhere, whether a particular scent, texture, sound, taste, or place?


Wrapping myself in a silk shawl (usually a pareo from my friends’ brand Gemsun) transports me to instant comfort and safety.
The Guinness chocolate cake from Vinegar Hill House tastes like treasured celebrations. My fiancé’s typical scent of patchouli. When I smell him I feel at home.

What does luxury mean to you now? Has your definition of it changed as your career and life have evolved?


Luxury is moving at a slower pace than the world demands of you. It’s simplicity. I used to think that luxury was equivalent to cost and amount. Now I think less is more, and that value gets to be determined by you, not by the price tag.