Work in Progress A Memoir

The inspiring true story of the self-made, Bronx-born portraitist who overcame all odds to become the most followed artist on social media worldwide—featuring 20 original black-and-white ink drawings of the people, places, and things that made him who he is. Devon Rodriguez talks to strangers: his subway sketches and person-on-the-street interviews have earned him millions of followers. His hyperrealistic work demonstrates the power of portraiture to help us see ourselves and each other. He’s a new-school influencer with old-school talent. Now, the celebrated Bronx-born artist turns his perspective inward. When Rodriguez was a child, art became an escape from devastating abuse and poverty. It was also a currency that helped him stay out of trouble. This fascinating memoir is a twenty-first-century fable about a young man with a pencil, a phone, and a relentless drive to succeed. Instead of following the conventional route to art world prestige, he saw opportunity online, sharing his work in bite-sized TikTok videos that after many experiments went viral, making him one of the top influencers of his generation.