Posts by Jessica Stewart

Jessica Stewart

Jessica Stewart is a Staff Editor and Digital Media Specialist for My Modern Met, as well as a curator and art historian. Since 2020, she is also one of the co-hosts of the My Modern Met Top Artist Podcast. She earned her MA in Renaissance Studies from University College London and now lives in Rome, Italy. She cultivated expertise in street art which led to the purchase of her photographic archive by the Treccani Italian Encyclopedia in 2014. When she’s not spending time with her three dogs, she also manages the studio of a successful street artist. In 2013, she authored the book "Street Art Stories Roma" and most recently contributed to "Crossroads: A Glimpse Into the Life of Alice Pasquini." You can follow her adventures online at @romephotoblog.
Travel
July 7, 2019

Massive Ancient Underground City Once Housed 20,000 People

Many of us have fantasized about having a door in our home that leads us to a hidden world, but can you imagine a buried city laying just behind the walls of your house? In 1963, a Turkish man knocked down a wall in his basement only to discover the ancient 18-story underground city of Derinkuyu. At one time housing up to 20,000 people, Derinkuyu is one of the largest underground cities in the world.

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Painting
July 2, 2019

This Artist’s Oil Paintings of Women Are Considered the Most Realistic in the World

Creating portraits that are startlingly lifelike, Chinese artist Leng Jun is a master of hyperrealism. The accomplished painter is particularly known for his detailed oil paintings of women, where every wisp of hair and fiber of clothing is rendered to perfection. Born in 1963, Leng came of age during a time of great economic reform known as the Opening of China. This great cultural change, and the Western influences it introduced, greatly influenced his art.

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Nature
June 26, 2019

This Strange Plant Has Flowers with Petals Shaped Like Hummingbirds

When Redditor Octopus Prime posted this photo of an unusual looking plant, the internet caught fire. In the palm of someone's hand, what appears to be an origami hummingbird is actually a flower. Instantly, everyone was wondering where this plant came from and what benefit it received from looking like a bird. Luckily, fellow Redditor SolitaryBee—a post-doc scientist studying flower evolution—was able to help shed some light on the situation.

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Portrait Photography
June 20, 2019

Interview: Kids Around the World Photographed Surrounded by Their Weekly Diet

With childhood obesity on the rise and globalization homogenizing nutrition, photographer Gregg Segal set out to discover what a week's worth of food looked like around the world. By focusing on the diets of children, whose lifelong eating habits are created in these formative years, Segal's stunning photographs speak to themes of nutrition, class, and culture. His new book, Daily Bread, spreads across 120 pages and details the stories behind the portraits.

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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.