Technology

For all of you guys that aren't going to read the relatively long article, here's a TL;DR

The artist in question is Devon Rodriguez, who you will more likely recognize if I say he is "the painter who draws people on the subway, from TikTok."

He did a gallery, and this critic, Ben Davis, said that these types of subway portraits are nothing new. The portraits are good as far as realistic portraits go, but as an art critic, the portraits themselves are not very noteworthy. The videos of him making the portraits are what is noteworthy.

Devon Rodriguez didn't like the review and pointed his fans at it. His fans didn't actually read the review (nor did Devon). The fans really got stuck on the part where the critic said that you might not recognize the artist until he called him "the painter who draws people on the subway, from TikTok."

On Saturday morning, I woke up to a tidal wave of anger from Rodriguez on Instagram, tagging me across scores of posts. Hundreds of his followers went on the attack, swarming my Instagram: “loser,” “hater,” “pathetic,” “jealous,” “your a dick,” and on and on and on. There were many creative variations on “kill yourself.” Others said they were going to get me fired, or said things like, “we are going to start a cancellation campaign against you.” A large number thought that defending Rodriguez meant calling me bald, ugly, fat, or whatever they thought could get under my skin. Most didn’t seem to have actually read my article. A contingent went after my wife. “Some women will do anything for money,” one commented. That one was funny, actually.

Meanwhile, Devon makes public posts saying, of the critic, "love will always outshine being a hater, I hope I taught you that today."

The critic goes on to say that Devon Rodriguez's videos are obviously faked, and posts the most obvious example he could find, where another TikToker dances on the London Underground for 30 minutes while he makes a sketch of her that clearly seems to be from a photo not taken at the time. The whole thing has multiple camera angles, and then she acts surprised when he reveals that he drew her.

He ends talking a lot about how problematic parasocial relationships can be. These are where a lot of people feel like they "know" a famous person, but he clearly doesn't know them. And the celebrity ends up with a lot of people acting all wacky to defend him.

Don't display your art to the world if you're not strong enough to take criticism

This artist's mob of a following harassed an art critic for their opinion. And so did the artist himself actually! Encouraged it even. What a bum.

It wasn't even a negative review, it was constructive criticism.

Never heard of this guy but no one should be surprised by his actions. Seems like folks popular only on social media tend to be very thin skinned and entitled.

Not a fan of this type of stunt.

Wow, what a cool artist, making 30 grand a day shilling fucking cheetos online drawing lame shit an AI could crank out in 2 seconds. Truly a revolutionary thinker that will be talked about for generations to come.

EDIT: Removed the quotes around 'artist' because they are, in fact, an artist, I just have no respect for their art.

Isn’t this the dude who obviously makes staged videos? In his videos there is always an obvious cut when the camera pans from the subject in the subway to the drawing. No wonder all his fans are straight up morons

Article says he works with "A-list celebrities"

Open TikTok link

It's Jared Leto

Birds of a feather stick together, him being a harasser isn't surprising then.

Tik Tok guy needs to understand that this will not make the critic appreciate his work.

Like this will just piss off every other critic but okay, you do you.

This artist has a shithouse personality. How thin skinned do you have to be that any criticism warrants that type of petty approach, jeeze

Huh, his art is technically fine, but I've seen photorealism done better (and really, it tends to be one of the most boring genres of art imo, because it's usually more focused on accuracy than on any kind of meaning or feeling). I probably wouldn't have thought twice about him if I ever came across his work, but now my impression is that he's not particularly likeable in addition to being a pretty mediocre artist. Especially since the original review was very fair - maybe nicer than he deserved. That chicken hand was rough.

An art influencer is an interesting concept.

Haha Devon Rodriguez is a little bitch. Only a little bitch sends his followers to harass a critic.

Tik Tokers pretend like the culture of building ethical parasocial relationships with your fanbase hasn't already been established years ago by Youtuber and Twitch streamers. You never send your fans to harass others. That's literally how you get banned from the platform.

What a sad life the artist must have to be so callous

He should play George Santos in the inevitable biopic/buddy comedy of one [George Santos can play George Santos I and his best friend and occasional casual friend-with-congressional-benefits, George Santos I(I)

Edit: and like the whole 47 second credit run is populated exclusively by George Santos. Where is that schtick from btw if anyone knows? Like the gag where you are all the credits...and it goes like waaay too fast low-budget style. I feel like that was a funny part of some production within the production of the show Nathan For You but I'm not convinced that was the first time any auteur's done such a thing either seriously or because its funny

Damn this is some thin skinned baby behavior