Portrait Photography
March 11, 2026

Photographic Survey From 19th-Century India Snags Nearly $57K at Auction

Last month, London-based Forum Auctions sold an eight-volume survey of 19th century India for £42,000 (about $56,800), exceeding pre-sale estimates by more than £34,000 (about $45,662). The remarkable hammer price reveals an increased appetite not just for early photography, but for documentary projects that contend with complicated moments in history. In this particular case, that moment in time is the British colonization of the Indian subcontinent.

Read Article

Photo Contest
March 10, 2026

Striking Scene of a Toad Swimming Across a Pond Wins the 2026 British Wildlife Photography Awards

A black-and-white image of a toad swimming across a pond has a striking, abstracted feel. The silhouetted creature and the surrounding branches are flattened and slightly distorted, swirling like an oil spill as the toad’s legs form ripples in the water. Aptly titled A Toad Swims Across Its Woodland Pond, the image was shot by Paul Hobson and has recently earned a prestigious distinction.

Read Article

Sculpture
March 10, 2026

Artist Builds Giant Butterfly Wings From Thousands of Tiny Porcelain Fragments

A butterfly wing looks silky smooth to the naked eye, but it’s a different story under a microscope. Up close, the wing is actually made up of thousands of tiny overlapping scales. New York-based artist Rebecca Manson takes inspiration from these minuscule natural details, creating ceramic sculptures that capture the incredible beauty of butterfly and moth wings.

Read Article

Architecture
March 9, 2026

How This Architect Abandoned Convention in Favor of Nature

In Friedensreich Hundertwasser’s mind, there was nothing worse than a straight line. “[It’s] godless and immoral,” the Austrian-born artist wrote in a 1958 manifesto. “In it there live not God and human spirit, but a mass created, brainless ant addicted to comfort.” That distaste is evident in his architecture, which explodes with unexpected curves, bold colors, and fantastical silhouettes.

Read Article

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.