Former SVA instructor posts thousands of subway photos, sparking privacy outcry

Brian Appel, an artist who formerly taught at New York’s School of Visual Arts, has been posting a massive archive of subway photographs to his Facebook page for over two years. He labels himself as a “Faculty Emeritus,” a claim the institution refutes, stating he ended his 15-year tenure in August 2025 and never received emeritus status. The images, taken primarily on the R line, include unblurred faces of commuters, with a noticeable focus on women wearing low-cut or tank-top attire.

One Brooklyn mother identified photos of her two daughters, prompting her to ask Appel to delete them; he removed the specific picture but resumed uploading new shots the following day. The school’s spokesperson emphasized that Appel is no longer employed there, and the artist has not responded to media inquiries beyond brief comments on his artistic intent.