“This Won”t Be Here Forever” w/ Homesick

Homesick is one of New York City’s most prolific graffiti writers. In this episode, Populist follows him through a week of bombing, documenting the city and reflecting on the story behind one of the most recognizable names in New York graffiti.

For Homesick, the name carries a meaning far beyond graffiti. It is rooted in the neighborhood, in displacement, and in watching the city change around him. It represents a feeling shared by many New Yorkers who have seen their communities transformed by rising rents, development and gentrification. It is about missing what once was, while still fighting to preserve what remains.

Growing up in Williamsburg, Homesick witnessed one of the most dramatic transformations in New York City. What was once an industrial, working-class neighborhood filled with artists, skaters, writers and long-time residents has become one of the most expensive and sought-after areas in the world. Throughout the film, he reflects on what has been lost along the way and the feeling of becoming a stranger in the place where you grew up.

The conversation also explores his personal background. From family struggles and eviction to growing up as the son of Polish immigrants, Homesick speaks openly about the experiences that shaped both his life and his work. These stories provide context to the emotions behind the name and reveal how graffiti became more than just a hobby—it became a way of processing change, documenting reality and creating meaning from difficult circumstances.

For Homesick, graffiti is closely connected to memory and place. Every tag, every photograph and every documented moment becomes a record of a city that is constantly changing. The urge to document comes from the understanding that many of these spaces, people and stories may not be around forever.

“This Won’t Be Here Forever” is ultimately about much more than graffiti. It is about home, identity, community and the struggle to hold on to culture in a city that never stops changing. Through Homesick’s perspective, Populist captures a side of New York that often goes unnoticed—a city filled with memories, disappearing spaces and people determined to leave their mark before it is gone.