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.
Oil Painting
November 20, 2025

Psychedelic Paintings Visualize the Human Psyche as a Surreal Technicolor Dream

Surrealism has only been around for a century, yet it’s had an outsized impact on the art world. In its relatively short lifespan, the movement has inspired countless creatives working today. Brazilian artist Rafael Silveira is one of them; he creates fantastical portraits of people that use objects, animals, and places as a way to delve into the human psyche.

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Embroidery
November 19, 2025

Artist Has Been Embroidering Fashionable Frocks on a Tiny Model for Nearly 10 Years

Nona Kecil is one of the most fashionable characters you’ll meet. She’s not afraid to experiment with bold, bright colors and try avant-garde shapes that change her silhouette in fun and surprising ways. You might envy her wardrobe and want to know where she finds her fabulous frocks. Well, everything Nona Kecil wears is one of a kind for good reason: she’s not real.

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Art
November 14, 2025

Get To Know the Denver Art Museum, a Global Museum With Regional Emphasis [Interview]

Art museums play a vital role in the culture of a city or town. The collections in these institutions often showcase works and objects from other places, exposing visitors to many ways of life. But these museums also offer a valuable opportunity to appreciate and participate in the cultural happenings of the place where they live. The Denver Art Museum (DAM) is fostering these connections through its vast collections and emphasis on community engagement.

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Underwater Photography
November 13, 2025

Baroque-Inspired Underwater Photos Tell the Tales of Myths and Legends

Artist Christy Lee Rogers has been busy. In October, she concluded her exhibition Aqueous Renaissance at ART LABOR Gallery in Shanghai. Now, she’s coming to the UK for an immersive multimedia event titled Myths and Legends. It’s happening for just five days, from November 29 to December 3, 2025, at W1 Curates in London. But for its brevity, it promises to be a spectacular showing that includes a transformation of the W1 facade.

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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.