@devonrodriguezart
Devon RodriguezThis interview was filmed in 2017, in the corner of my grandma’s living room in the South Bronx. I was just a kid in poverty living in the hood with a dream, painting every day and hoping art could change my life. In 2009, I had applied to the High School of Art & Design for ninth grade and got rejected. My drawing portfolio honestly sucked skill wise and lacked range because I hadn’t been practicing much and didn’t know about different mediums or subject matter. In 2010, I ended up at a high school in the Bronx, Samuel Gompers HS where I met an art teacher named Mr. Harper. He saw something in me. For months, he mentored me, pushed me, helped me rebuild my portfolio, and for tenth grade I finally got accepted into the High School of Art & Design. There, I met my oil painting teacher, Mr. Harrington, who transformed the way I saw art. He sharpened my technique, strengthened my discipline, and fueled my drive. I graduated in 2014. I didn’t go viral until 2020. I’m grateful that my friend Michael @siteb_studios documented those early interviews, because looking back at my mindset then is surreal. I had no idea what was coming. Thank you for supporting this journey. My memoir comes out in September, and my dream is to make it a New York Times bestseller. If you believe in me, I’d be honored if you pre-order it through the link in my bio or at DevonRodriguezBook.com. I promise you, the stories inside will surprise you as much as they surprised me. Thank you @penguinrandomhouse @oneworldbooks for believing in my me and giving me the opportunity to publish my life story 🙏🏼♥️
On the profile · Feb 17, 2026