Exploring the Intersection of Myth, Feminism, and Identity.
Myths and Matriarchy is an ongoing photographic project that delves into the ways women in folklore have been represented — as archetypes, symbols, and often, as simplified versions of deeper stories. Through portraiture and creative direction, this series offers a personal take on these mythological figures, re-examining their power, complexity, and cultural legacy.
Blending research with visual storytelling, the project invites viewers to reflect on how these age-old narratives still shape our understanding of femininity and identity today.
Project Context
Myths and Matriarchy began as a university project but quickly evolved into something much more personal and ongoing. Drawing inspiration from mythological figures such as Persephone, Brigid, Hecate, the Lady of the Lake, and Sedna, this series reflects my interest in how stories — especially those rooted in folklore — shape cultural understandings of women and femininity.
Rather than reinventing these figures, the project reconsiders how they have historically been portrayed. Through conceptual portraiture, styling, and symbolic environments, I explore themes of power, duality, autonomy, and silence — the traits so often written into or out of these characters. My aim is not to retell their stories, but to hold space for reinterpretation, complexity, and quiet resistance.
This series will continue to grow over time, shifting and expanding as I further explore the roles these mythic women play in both the past and the present.
Kiah Strong Photography 