Work in Progress: A Memoir

This inspiring, raw memoir traces the path Devon Rodriguez took from an abusive childhood to becoming the most followed artist on social media worldwide, as he discovered the transformative power of seeing and being seen—featuring new graphite illustrations of the people and places that shaped him.

“In his captivating memoir, Devon turns a childhood marked by poverty, abuse, and survival into something raw, beautiful, and deeply human.”—Mel Robbins, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Let Them Theory, host of The Mel Robbins Podcast

As a child, Rodriguez wondered why he lived in a single cramped room with his family, where he was beaten often and never felt safe. But despite difficult circumstances, he always believed he was going to be a successful artist.

When he was in the ninth grade, his art teacher invited him to ride the New York City subway, with one destination in mind: the development of his craft, by drawing the commuters sitting across from him. A blank page in his sketchbook was something Rodriguez could control in an otherwise chaotic life.

In this astonishing memoir, he explains how his art, his grandmother, and his own relentless drive saved him from heart-wrenching circumstances and led him to redefine out-of-fashion realist portraiture as fresh and magical.

Rodriguez writes with rhythm, verve, and an artist’s POV, painting a vivid picture of his native Bronx, the tattoos and rooftop graffiti that mesmerized him as a kid, and the teachers who saw his potential and nourished it.

Painting regular people in all their complexity is Rodriguez’s gift and his offering to the world, an old-school act that has made him a new-school star. Work in Progress delivers Rodriguez’s most precise and moving portrait yet: of himself.

Devon Rodriguez is a Bronx-born portrait artist of Puerto Rican and Honduran descent. He rose to notoriety for drawing realistic portraits of commuters on the New York City subway system. He has also portrayed such luminaries as former President Biden, Oprah, and more. The most-followed visual artist on TikTok, he was a finalist in the Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition. His work has been featured in The New Yorker and The New York Times. He was named a 2025 Time100 Creator and a Forbes Top Creator the same year. He lives in New York City.

“Devon Rodriguez doesn’t just draw people—he teaches you how to really see them. In his captivating memoir, Rodriguez turns a childhood marked by poverty, abuse, and survival into something raw, beautiful, and deeply human. This book is proof that your pain is not the end of your story. It may be the place where your purpose begins.”—Mel Robbins, New York Times bestselling author of The Let Them Theory

“As a kid from the Bronx who didn’t have a traditional path to success, Rodriguez’s story resonates OD. He also serves as a reminder that the Bronx breeds some of the most resilient people on Earth! (I am completely unbiased in this statement.)”—The Kid Mero, co-author of God-Level Knowledge Darts

“This is an insightful, must-read glimpse into the life of a young man whose story is filled with resilience and all the colors that life has to offer. Devon Rodriguez’s path has not been easy but he continued moving forward to achieve his goals and pursue his dreams. And guess what? He’s still young, still growing. Buckle up, pick up a paintbrush, and imagine his life.”—Luis Guzmán, acclaimed actor