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.
Technology
October 29, 2025

These Artists, Architects, and Directors Are the Most-Used Prompts for Generative AI Art

Generative AI has enabled anyone to create artwork they’ve only dreamt about in their head. With one prompt, someone can conjure fantastical scenes rich in incredible detail in a variety of aesthetic styles. However, to achieve this, they must provide the AI with an idea of what that looks like, often accompanied by an artist’s name or style. Some names and styles are replicated more than others.

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Art
October 24, 2025

Nearly 30 Years of Artist Lee Bul’s Extensive Oeuvre in One Expansive Exhibition

For artists who have been working for many years, survey exhibitions are a valuable opportunity for us to understand their work as a single oeuvre. What throughlines are there? Are there recurring motifs visible from project to project? Artist Lee Bul is an influential figure in Korean contemporary art, and a major survey exhibition of her work at the Leeum Museum of Art is a journey into her artistic mind.

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Art
October 17, 2025

Art Toronto Director Shares What We Can Expect From “Canada’s Art Fair” This Year [Interview]

The beauty of an art fair is that it offers a chance to showcase the creative culture of the city or region where it is held. The Seattle Art Fair, for instance, used the event as an opportunity to explore the long tradition of glass art in the Pacific Northwest region. Art Toronto is another fair tapping into the host city and the greater country’s rich culture to develop its distinct point of view.

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Installation
October 15, 2025

30,000 Ceramic Poppies Installation Commemorates 80th Anniversary of the End of WWII

A commemorative display at the Tower of London marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. Featuring a visually striking array of nearly 30,000 ceramic poppies, the installation is a poignant and beautiful way to remember the enormous sacrifices made by so many people during war. The plethora of poppies was created by artist Paul Cummins, originally for a 2014 installation titled Blood Swept Lands and Seas Red.

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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.