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.
Inspiring
September 5, 2025

Bedbound 23-Year-Old Living With Chronic Illness Is Making Music People Love [Interview]

Imagine that one day you couldn’t make it out of bed. Maybe you’ve experienced that, with something like the flu. It can be miserable, but you know you’ll eventually get better and resume normal life. But what if that wasn’t the case? What if you were never able to get back to running, cooking, or even climbing the stairs? That’s the reality for those diagnosed with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).

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Travel
September 2, 2025

Portland Japanese Garden: The Most Authentic Japanese Garden Outside of Japan [Interview]

Nestled within Portland’s Washington Park sits a majestic garden and one of the city’s highly treasured spaces. The Portland Japanese Garden is a true gem and lauded as the most beautiful and authentic Japanese garden outside of Japan. Encompassing 12.5 acres, the site is more than “just” a garden; it’s a place where visitors can immerse themselves in Japanese culture while enjoying and appreciating nature in all its glory.

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Photo Contest
August 28, 2025

14 Finalists From the 2025 Wildlife Photographer of the Year Contest

Wildlife photographers chronicle how creatures navigate a changing world. Their images tell a tale, whether it’s about the animal kingdom as a whole or a single story about a particular species. The Wildlife Photographer of the Year contest showcases the very best of this type of work, leaving us awestruck, more informed, and motivated to help protect the world where humans and animals coexist.

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Art
August 25, 2025

Frieze Seoul 2025: Preview the Fourth Edition of the International Art Fair Returning in September

The ever-expanding creative voice of Asia is evident in Frieze Seoul, which is just a little over a week away from returning for its fourth year. Happening September 3–6, 2025, in the city’s vibrant Gangnam district, the fair focuses on Korea and the larger Asian art scene, spanning generations and disciplines. But it also doesn’t shy away from welcoming other galleries from across the globe.

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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.