Vicente Wolf of Midtown on Life, Lessons & Legacy

We recently had the chance to connect with Vicente Wolf and have shared our conversation below.

Vicente, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
3 things, 1- My work with Gods Love We Deliver, a charity that helps feed thousands of people who are ill and homebound. 2-The Joyce Theater, a design foundation that brings international dance that brings international dance to NY and supports new dance companies that we would never see in the US if not for them. 3- Mikal Baryshnikov’s foundation that promotes artists and gives them sponsorship for a year to work on creative projects in dance, theater and projects that are under the radar that brings forward exciting new art forms,

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
For decades, Cuban born Vicente Wolf has been at the top of the interior design world, known for his inspired residential, hospitality and commercial interior design. For the past 45 years he has perfected the vocabulary of modern design with a strong reference to the past. Wolf has appeared on all best-of designer lists. His work has been featured in all the top shelter publications including House Beautiful, Architectural Digest, Luxe Interiors + Design and Cottages & Gardens, and was named to Elle Décor magazine’s inaugural list of design Titans in 2021, an elite list of A-List of designers. When he is not guiding his design team, he takes photographs, gardens, attends the theater, visits museums and travels to remote corners of the world. Vicente is a delightful combination of funny and dead-pan, hard-working yet an escapist, political and unconscious, political and concerned – all mixed into a Latino interior and covered in a shell of New York sophistication.

Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
I’m Cuban born and came to this country as a refugee in 1961. Nobody told me who I had to be. I chose that for myself thru exposure to whata I loved, following my gut and working God damned hard

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
Believe in yourself. Don’t beat yourself up, there will be enough people out there that will do that for you.

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Is the public version of you the real you?
I happen to be a very shy person that is always standing in the corner at a party or event. But, when i’m standing in front of 100 people, I am able to expose myself without any fear and able to speak to the crowd as if I am speaking to one person, that is easier for me than talking to just one person at a cocktail party. That is because I truly believe in what I do as a creative person, which is different at a cocktail party without having my work stand between us as protection.

Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: Are you tap dancing to work? Have you been that level of excited at any point in your career? If so, please tell us about those days. 
I love what I do whether there are times that I am annoyed, fearful or overwhelmed. But tap dance, I do every day when I am creating, it is my life, it my goal to keep doing until I take my last breath. It is something that has become who I am. THo age has made my steps less fluid in my tap dancing.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Headshot, Julien Capmeil Photography

Project Images, Vicente Wolf

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