Hello! I’m Tyler Miles Lockett, an award-winning illustrator dedicated to breathing fresh life into the magic and mystery of ancient mythology and classical literature.

Like many children lucky enough to be read to at bedtime, my first encounter with Greek mythology came through a beautifully illustrated book my father shared with me around the age of four in the early 1980s. I was captivated—especially by the darker, more mature illustrations of heroic quests and monstrous creatures. The image of Bellerophon battling the bleeding Chimaera fascinated me endlessly.

In high school, my passion deepened when I was introduced to The Iliad. As we read passages aloud in class, I remember glancing around, wondering if I was the only one awed by its poetic language and complex themes. Soon after, I was poring over Robert Fagles’ gorgeous Penguin Classics translation, marveling at the sophistication and brutality of Homer’s epics.

A few years later, as an art student at Parsons School of Design in New York City, Greek myths continued to surface in my subconscious. On weekends, I wandered through the Metropolitan Museum of Art, drawn to Greek statues and pottery. One day, riding the subway back to my dorm, I sketched Hades abducting Persephone—an image strikingly similar to one I would paint nearly two decades later for this book.

But it wasn’t until I graduated and became a globetrotting digital nomad that my love for mythology fully ignited. My father and I spent two transformative months in Athens, Greece, immersing ourselves in its history and mythos. We roamed the halls of the National Archaeological Museum and the Acropolis Museum, absorbing the relics and stories of an ancient world.

We wandered through the Agora, where Socrates and Plato once spoke, and ascended the path to the Acropolis, pausing to marvel at the Theater of Dionysus, where tragedians performed for the masses. We explored the ruins of the Temple of Hephaestus and the Temple of Zeus, and I hiked to the summit of Lycabettus Hill, the highest point in central Athens.

That journey was more than a visit—it was a pilgrimage. And it solidified my lifelong passion for Greek mythology, inspiring the work I create today.

On weekends, we took short trips to Corinth, the breathtaking ruins of Delphi—where the Oracle delivered her cryptic prophecies to pilgrims—and even flew to Ephesus in Turkey to behold one of the most enigmatic statues I’ve ever seen: the Artemis of Ephesus.

With these sacred artifacts and ancient ruins now coursing through my veins, my imagination ignited. I began to envision what my own illustrated book might look like. I wanted the artwork to be vibrant and contemporary—designed to enthrall and enchant a modern audience. My goal was to breathe fresh life into these ancient stories, captivating a new generation of readers.

To give these myths immediacy and immersion, I’ve written each tale from the characters' points of view and in the present tense. In pursuit of cultural authenticity, I have chosen to remain true to the original literary sources—Hesiod, Diodorus, Apollonius—whereas many modern adaptations sanitize these stories for younger audiences. Greek mythology is raw and unflinching, filled with themes of power, betrayal, passion, and violence. Rather than dilute its complexities, I embrace them, ensuring that my retellings reflect the myths as they were first told. This commitment to authenticity has become a cornerstone of Lockett Studio’s work.

I truly believe that Greek myths are among the most sophisticated, compelling, and enduring stories ever created by humankind. My goal is not to provide a comprehensive academic deep dive but to open a doorway into this vast world. If this project sparks your curiosity and inspires you to explore these myths further, then I will have succeeded.

May the gods assist me in my pursuit.

Tyler Miles Lockett, 2024