Myth Fest Feature: Matt Maes' Surreal Mythology
- ISM
- Mar 28
- 5 min read
By ISM
As we lead up to the Myth Fest: Art and Music, the Mythological Times asked our presentors questions to be featured on the blog. The next posts will preview several talented presenters starting with Matt Maes. If you like what you read, sign up for Myth Fest to watch his full presentation, and all of our other presenters.
Matt Maes
"Mythic" Matt is a lifelong artist with a love for symbolic meaning and storytelling, channeled through mythic visual art. His existential curiosity and devotion to his craft guides him to create imagery rich with layers of deep meaningfulness. Being on the spectrum himself, he speaks to neurodiversity, mental health, and the ways that non religious spirituality and creative expression saved his life. He co-leads the "Mythic Monday" series alongside Scott Mason a.k.a. "The Myth Slayer" on Instagram live, is the inventor of “Drawing Games” and the illustrator of the fantasy novel "Azreya Aztec Priestess."
What first captivated you about mythology? Was there a specific myth?
Mythology drew me in because it speaks to something deep within us—something beyond time and culture. These stories aren’t just entertainment; they carry wisdom, revealing universal truths about the human experience. They show us the struggles of transformation, the balance of light and dark, and the power of embracing our own potential. Myths have this way of cutting straight to the core of what it means to be human, bypassing logic and speaking directly to the soul.
If I had to pinpoint one myth that truly captivated me, it would be the story of Eve through my piece "In the Garden of Her Eyes." The original idea was to create a drawn portrait of a woman with her eyes, nose and lips exposed, with a background in her face. As I detailed her eyes I felt a sense of presence come through that I'd never encountered before, and decided that she should represent a specific person, real or mythical, and chose Eve. The background became the Garden of Eden, and her story determined a whole new direction in the art as well as being the foundation for all mythical art to come.
When did you begin to incorporate mythology into your art?
Mythology started weaving itself into my work before I even realized it. In the beginning, I was creating surreal, symbolic art, drawn to the strange and the dreamlike. But as I grew, I started recognizing patterns in what I was making—archetypal figures, ancient symbols, and narratives that felt larger than myself. That’s when I began to consciously integrate mythology, using its language to give my work more depth and resonance.
Over time, it became clear that I wasn’t just illustrating myths—I was inviting people into them. I wanted my art to act as a portal, pulling viewers into a world where they could see their own journey reflected in these mythic figures and symbols. It wasn’t just about telling a story; it was about awakening something within people, reconnecting them to the deeper, forgotten parts of themselves. That shift turned my work from personal expression into a living mythology, something others could step into and make their own.
I wanted my art to act as a portal, pulling viewers into a world where they could see their own journey reflected in these mythic figures and symbols.
What are your favorite responses from art and mythology?
The most powerful responses are when people tell me that my work made them feel something—something they hadn’t felt in a long time. I’ve had people say a piece of art helped them reconnect with a lost part of themselves, or that it gave them a sense of direction when they felt lost. Those moments remind me why I create. Art and mythology have the power to stir something deep inside us, something ancient and untamed.
I also love when people see themselves in the myths I explore. When someone tells me that a piece reminded them of their own struggles, triumphs, or spiritual journey, I know the art is doing its job. Mythology isn’t just about gods and heroes; it’s about all of us. And when people realize they are living their own myth, it shifts something—it empowers them to see their life as a story worth telling.
What do you like about your chosen art medium?
I love how my medium allows me to bridge the seen and unseen, the ethereal and the physical. Whether I’m working digitally or traditionally, I approach art as a kind of alchemy—taking raw energy, emotion, and vision and turning it into something people can experience. There’s a magic in that process, in watching something intangible become real.
Whether I’m working digitally or traditionally, I approach art as a kind of alchemy—taking raw energy, emotion, and vision and turning it into something people can experience.
What excites me most is that my medium lets me build worlds. It’s not just about creating a single image but crafting an entire atmosphere, a place where viewers can lose themselves and rediscover something new within. I want my art to feel like stepping through a hidden doorway, like entering a realm that exists just beyond our perception, waiting to be remembered.
Any other thoughts?
Mythology isn’t just a collection of old stories—it’s alive, shaping us even when we don’t realize it. Every choice we make, every transformation we go through, echoes the myths of old. I want my art to remind people of that, to awaken their awareness that they are part of something vast and powerful.
More than anything, I want people to step into their own legend. To see themselves as the hero of their story, the sovereign of their own mythic journey. The world is richer when we live with that awareness, when we craft our lives with the same intention that ancient storytellers crafted their myths. That’s the invitation my art offers—to step into the myth and become it.
More than anything, I want people to step into their own legend. To see themselves as the hero of their story, the sovereign of their own mythic journey.
Instagram: @quantumkeyholestudio
Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/mattqkstudio/
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The Mythological Times is dedicated to showcasing the voices of our community. The opinions expressed in each Mythological Times blog post are those of the author and are not necessarily those of the International Society of Myth.
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