Why Myth Still Matters

Why we still tell the old stories, and how I interpret them in modern forms.

Myths endure not because they are old, but because they still speak to something essential in us. Across centuries and continents, these stories adapt. Their forms may shift, but their purpose remains. They offer insight, caution, wonder, and at times, beauty.

In today’s fast-moving world, where technology dominates the headlines, myth gives us a thread that connects the ancient with the present. These stories bring the unreal nature of today’s headlines and provides a new perspective.

Myths as Mirrors

At their core, myths are mirrors. They reflect the timeless patterns of human experience: love and loss, transformation, resilience, and the search for meaning.

Medusa Portrait

Consider Medusa. Once depicted only as a monster, she has evolved into a powerful symbol of resistance and misunderstood strength. Her story, retold through modern eyes, resonates with new generations who see in her the complexities of power, vulnerability, and voice.

Myths invite us to see ourselves in the characters and choices of long ago. In doing so, they offer perspective on the challenges of today.

Myths as Creative Inspiration

For artists, myths provide a rich canvas. Their symbols and archetypes invite endless reinterpretation.

In recent years, I have seen a growing interest in mythical themes across many creative platforms. Artists everywhere are blending traditional stories with modern aesthetics, creating fresh visual languages that resonate with today’s audiences.

Europa at the Met Gala

A goddess among flashbulbs, Europa descends into the spotlight—timeless, regal, radiant. 

This is certainly true at PiP Art Gallery. Our Olympians in New York series takes that idea to heart. I wanted to imagine what these timeless figures might look like if they walked the streets of modern Manhattan. Where would they live? What would they do? How would they move through our world?

Some of their stories unfolded quickly. I placed Europa on the steps of the Met Gala, arriving not on a bull this time, but as a celebrated figure in fashion and culture.

Hermes works as a bike courier, weaving through traffic and delivering messages across the city faster than any digital signal.

Hera presides over her domain as an elegant Upper East Side matron, commanding attention and influence in the city’s most rarefied circles.

Cassandra, whose truths no one believed in ancient Troy, now works in a genome research lab. Her insights into unseen patterns and emerging discoveries are still questioned by those around her.

Medusa stalks the Lower East Side as a fierce punk icon, her gaze daring anyone to underestimate her.

Ares at Madison Square Garden

The god of war watches over modern warriors in this rich, classically styled portrait. Perfect for mythology lovers, combat sports fans, and collectors of bold, symbolic artwork. 

Ares trains in an underground boxing gym, where battle has taken new forms but still feeds the same restless spirit. Persephone haunts the lobby of the Waldorf Astoria, a figure of grace and mystery, caught between two worlds.

Hercules rides the subway, blending in with the crowd. His strength is quiet, his labors now taking the form of endurance through the daily trials of the city.

Artemis appears in Times Square, a lone figure amid the neon glare, representing independence, clarity of purpose, and the wild spirit that even the most urban of environments cannot contain.

Each of these portraits invites the viewer to revisit familiar tales through an

Cassandra at the Genome Center

A reimagined Cassandra stands amid glass, steel, and science. Perfect for lovers of mythology, prophecy, and women who speak truth in the face of silence. 

A reimagined Cassandra stands amid glass, steel, and science. Perfect for lovers of mythology, prophecy, and women who speak truth in the face of silence. 

My goal with this series is to honor the emotional truth of these myths while letting them breathe in the present moment. After all, the gods have always adapted to the times.

Myth’s Role in a Technological Age

As artificial intelligence becomes a larger part of both creative and daily life, it is tempting to imagine that ancient stories might fade. Yet I find the opposite is true based on the response we have seen thus far.

Myth offers something that no algorithm can replicate: symbolic depth, layered meaning, and emotional resonance. The more automated the world becomes, the more these stories matter.

Artemis Goddess of the Wild – Greek Mythology

I use AI tools to explore and extend mythic imagery, not to replace it. The goal is not automation, but amplification. A single image of a sea goddess or celestial archer may carry centuries of meaning while engaging the tools of this moment. In doing so, myth bridges the past and the future.

Closing Reflection

We still tell the old stories because they still tell us who we are. Each retelling becomes a conversation between past and present. Through myth, I explore beauty, meaning, and the unseen forces that shape our world.

Here at PiP Art Gallery, I welcome that conversation and invite you to experience these stories with me.

Let us know what you discover.

Paula Phelan