Fascinating article. Exactly as the author writes, I had no idea who “Devon Rodriguez” was, but:

“…if you say: ‘he’s the painter who draws people on the subway, from TikTok.’ Then sometimes they will light up with recognition.”

…which is how I would know him; but alas this reality is apparently presumed to be belittling by a) the painter & b) his followers, and coordinated abuse follows.

It’s a shame. I now think less of the painter.