Posts by Sara Barnes

Sara Barnes

Sara Barnes is a Staff Editor at My Modern Met, Manager of My Modern Met Store, and co-host of the My Modern Met Top Artist Podcast. As an illustrator and writer living in Seattle, she chronicles illustration, embroidery, and beyond through her blog Brown Paper Bag and Instagram @brwnpaperbag. She wrote a book about embroidery artist Sarah K. Benning titled "Embroidered Life" that was published by Chronicle Books in 2019. Sara is a graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art. She earned her BFA in Illustration in 2008 and MFA in Illustration Practice in 2013.
Painting
January 27, 2026

Indigenous Artist’s “History Paintings” Capture Perspectives of Marginalized People Instead of Colonizers

In the 17th century, the French Royal Academy coined the term history painting to describe large-scale works that were generally understood to depict an important event or action involving many people. The happenings could be historical, religious, or even mythological in nature. This genre was particularly influential between the 15th and 19th centuries—even before there was a name for it.

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Sculpture
January 21, 2026

Surreal Video Sculptures Blur the Line Between What’s On the Screen and Happening in Real Life

All is not what it seems in sculptures by the artist known simply as Marck. In his alluring and enigmatic works, dimensions blur in a part-screen, part-tactile viewing experience. What happens on the screen in front of us directly influences the objects jutting from behind the frames that hold the large video screen, or vice versa. It’s a surreal sight as two seemingly disparate worlds influence one another in real time.

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Travel
January 16, 2026

My Modern Met’s Art + Culture Guide to Denver

Denver, Colorado, has an elevation that’s exactly one mile above sea level. Its high altitude has earned it the nickname the “Mile High City,” and its history has made it a place that is elevated in its culture, too. There’s a seemingly endless amount to explore, especially as a visitor to the city.

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Technology
January 9, 2026

LG Debuts AI-Powered Home Robot Designed To Do Your Household Chores for You

We all have chores we loathe. Maybe it’s folding laundry, or it’s cooking after a long workday. They are the sort of tasks you often wish you could offload to someone else. Better yet, someone who would never complain and never get tired. Well, LG Electronics has a solution coming for you. At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2026, the company debuted LG CLOiD, an AI-powered home robot that can perform domestic tasks.

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My Modern Met

Celebrating creativity and promoting a positive culture by spotlighting the best sides of humanity—from the lighthearted and fun to the thought-provoking and enlightening.