At 14 He Was Arrested for His Art—Years Later, the Smithsonian Called
Summary
Devon Rodriguez, a 30-year-old artist from the South Bronx, was arrested at 14 for vandalism but turned to portrait art as a positive path forward. He gained recognition from the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery and fame through social media by drawing portraits of strangers on the New York subway.Key Facts
- Devon Rodriguez was arrested for vandalism at age 14.
- He grew up in a poor family in the South Bronx with a difficult home life.
- After his arrest, he focused on portrait art instead of graffiti.
- He was initially rejected from the High School of Art and Design but later graduated in 2014.
- He studied at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT).
- In 2019, he became a finalist in the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery’s Outwin competition.
- During the COVID-19 pandemic, he gained viral fame by filming himself drawing portraits of subway riders.
- He has since drawn famous figures like Oprah Winfrey and President Joe Biden and collaborated with the fashion brand Armani.
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