Embroidery
February 3, 2022

Embroidered Brooches Look Like Portraits of Real Birds

Nature-lovers know that there's an abundance of bird species in the world. While it may be hard to see many of these in person, artist Paulina Bartnik (aka Embirdery) immortalizes their portraits in exquisite embroidered brooches. She uses her meticulous stitching techniques to render the unique appearance of each feathered creature—from barn owls to hummingbirds. “I chose birds because of the beautiful colors, shapes, and texture of feathers,” Bartnik tells My Modern Met.

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Nature
February 2, 2022

Lightning Bolt Travels Across Three U.S. States and Sets a New World Record

Stretching nearly 770 kilometers (about 478.5 miles), a bolt of lightning that reached across three U.S. states has set a new world record. According to the World Meteorological Organization, this incredible megaflash beat the previous record by nearly 70 kilometers (43.5 miles). This extreme weather event is one of two record-setting incidents announced by the UN organization. The megaflash occurred on April 29, 2020 in an area of the United States known for powerful storms.

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Pencil Drawing
February 2, 2022

Realistic Drawing of a Catfish Looks Like It’s Swimming Off the Page

It's easy to mistake the drawings of 25-year-old Aria for reality. The self-taught Japanese artist is famous on social media for creating head-turning illustrations of animals and objects that look like they're about to pop off the page. Her latest piece captures the whiskery form of a catfish whose tail magically escapes the boundary of the paper. Despite its three-dimensional appearance, Aria's artwork is, in fact, two dimensional.

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Style
February 1, 2022

Iridescent Cocktail Dress Is Handmade From Over 2,000 Pennies

While some may choose to put their change in a piggy bank, others use it as the material for marvelous creations. Artist Shay Rose (aka Crescent Shay) used over 2,000 pennies in her latest handmade garment: a shimmering cocktail dress with cross-back straps and a bottom fringe. The 22-year-old maker is well-known on social media for her imaginative projects (including her transformative green screen dress).

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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.