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.
Acrylic Painting
August 27, 2025

Anthropomorphic Bears and Bunnies Stand in for Humans in Paintings Commenting on Modern Life

Life is nothing without contrasts. Things can be sad, but they can also be funny. Someone can be sincere yet weave sarcasm into their response. Los Angeles-based artist Luke Chueh explores this type of duality—and contradictions—in his solo exhibition titled Making Light of the Darkness, now on view at Harman Projects in New York City.

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Museums
August 22, 2025

San Diego Museum of Art Plans for Upcoming Expansion Amid a World-Class Collection

One of the best things about visiting a new city, or rediscovering your own, is the local art museum. These important institutions allow us to experience art in an intimate setting—beyond our computer screens—and appreciate a variety of creativity and perspectives. If you’re in Southern California, the San Diego Museum of Art (SDMA) is a must-visit for this type of cultural experience.

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Wildlife Photography
August 5, 2025

Perfectly Timed Photo Captures Unlucky Vole Looking Directly at the Camera as It’s Swept Away as Dinner

Wildlife photography requires great technical skill, and it also involves a bit of luck. Being in the right place at the right time can land you a once-in-a-million shot that, in one fell swoop, epitomizes the wild world. Photographer Sha Lu recently captured an image like that. In his photo, an unlucky vole is powerless in the talons of a white-tailed kite as it soars away with the rodent in mid-air.

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History
July 30, 2025

2,400-Year-Old Mosaic of an Unbothered Skeleton Reminds Us To “Enjoy Your Life”

We’ve all heard the cliché, “Don’t worry, be happy,” and while it may be easier said than done, the sentiment has been around for a long time. Just how long? In 2012, Turkish archaeologists discovered a 2,400-year-old mosaic that appears to be the ancient equivalent of the phrase. The piece features a portrait of a reclining skeleton with one hand behind its head and a cup in the other.

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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.