Posts by Sara Barnes

Sara Barnes

Sara Barnes is a Staff Editor at My Modern Met and Manager of My Modern Met Store. She is a graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art where she earned her BFA in Illustration and MFA in Illustration Practice. Sara is also an embroidery illustrator and writer living in Seattle, Washington. She runs Bear&Bean, a studio where she stitches pet portraits and other beloved creatures. She chronicles the creativity of others through her website Brown Paper Bag and newsletter, Orts. Her latest book is Threads of Treasure: How to Make, Mend, and Find Meaning Through Thread, published in 2014. Sara’s work has been recognized in Be Creative With Workbox, Embroidery Magazine, American Illustration, on Iron and Wine’s album Beast Epic, among others. When she’s not stitching or writing, Sara enjoys planning things that bring together the craft community. She is the co-founder of Camp Craftaway, a day camp for crafty adults with hands-on workshops in the Seattle area.
Tattoos
June 12, 2025

Intricate Blue Ink Tattoos Wrap the Body in Sprawling Chinese-Inspired Dragon Designs

Korean tattoo artist Woojin Choi, better known as Oozy, creates detailed body art using shades of blue ink. Foregoing the standard black ink outline, Oozy works in monochrome to etch fine-line drawings of sprawling Chinese-inspired dragons that wind around arms, legs, and even skulls. The artist’s color choice, paired with his intricate style, transforms his clients into incredible moving art galleries.

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Crafts
June 2, 2025

Monumental Yarn Portraits Are This Artist’s Way of Celebrating Her BIPOC Community

Artist Kandy G Lopez is inspired by her community. “Those who have swagger,” she tells My Modern Met, “a rebel who glows and is forced to be seen in a place where we are told to disappear. I'm inspired by those who dare to dream with their armor on.” Lopez’s admiration takes the form of vibrant, monumental fiber art portraits of BIPOC people living in South Florida, where she's based.

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Art
May 20, 2025

Prolific Art Collector Invites All People to the Contemporary Art World Through Instagram [Interview]

You might know Steve Wilson by his glasses. The art collector and entrepreneur dons bright red eyewear, a constant on his popular Instagram account, as he shares illuminating interviews with contemporary artists, including Bisa Butler and Hank Willis Thomas. Within each vignette, Wilson is in the artist’s studio, at an exhibition, or purchasing original art at fairs like Art Basel Miami.

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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.