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Retna’s expressive art combines graffiti, calligraphy, and ancient script to create a visual language that's both modern and mysterious. Balance & movement can be found across Retna’s prints & paintings with bursts of color seeping forth. Discover Retna art for sale at Guy Hepner, Retna dealers since 2011.
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Latest: Retna Prints For Sale
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Retna, Even The Heart Skips A Beat, 2024
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Retna, Black on Blast, 2022
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Retna, Chinga tu Maiz, 2018
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Retna, El Nino Oscuro ha Regresado, 2018
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Retna, Sacred Dance of Memories, 2017
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Retna, Even the Heart Skips a Beat (black on black), 2024
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Retna, Sacred Scars, 2014
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Retna, Sensations of a Black Line, 2013
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Retna, Untitled, 2006
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Series
Retna
Elongated Brimstone, 2018ink on canvas31 x 48 in
78.7 x 121.9 cmSeries: PaintingsCopyright The ArtistRetna, also known as Marquis Lewis, is a contemporary artist renowned for his distinctive blend of graffiti, street art, and calligraphy. Born in Los Angeles, California, Retna emerged from the...
Retna, also known as Marquis Lewis, is a contemporary artist renowned for his distinctive blend of graffiti, street art, and calligraphy. Born in Los Angeles, California, Retna emerged from the local graffiti scene in the 1990s and quickly gained recognition for his unique visual style.Drawing inspiration from diverse cultural influences, including ancient scripts, typography, and urban street art, Retna developed a signature script that he incorporates into his artworks. His intricate compositions often feature a complex interplay of symbols, letters, and hieroglyphics, creating visually captivating pieces that transcend language barriers.
Retna's art is characterized by its depth of meaning and rich symbolism, exploring themes such as identity, spirituality, and human connection. Through his distinctive visual language, he invites viewers to interpret his work on a personal level, fostering a deeper engagement with his art.
Over the years, Retna has exhibited his work in galleries and museums worldwide, solidifying his reputation as one of the most influential contemporary artists of his generation. His murals adorn public spaces in cities across the globe, leaving a lasting impact on the urban landscape.
In addition to his visual art, Retna has collaborated with various brands and musicians, further expanding his reach and influence. His multidisciplinary approach to art has garnered him widespread acclaim and cemented his legacy as a visionary artist pushing the boundaries of contemporary art.
Overview"There is always an emotional element to anything that you make."
RETNA’s art combines a timeless and ancient sense of the familiar with the deeply modern through his sophisticated reimagination of symbols that seem to have been born from the very depths of humanity's urge to communicate. Drawing inspiration from a diverse range of typographies, RETNA incorporates ancient symbols with contemporary urban influences, resulting in a personal form of poetry that is visually striking and deeply symbolic. His works offer a multi-sensory experience that combines auditory and visual elements, making them dynamic additions to any art collection.
The visual aesthetic of RETNA’’s prints and paintings is immediately recognizable: bold, monochromatic palettes punctuated by occasional bursts of color, often red or blue. The strength of his artwork lies in the visual interplay between his densely packed lettering and the blank spaces surrounding it. Each composition exhibits a sense of balance, harmony, and movement, echoing both religious manuscripts and tribal iconography. This rhythmic flow of symbols forms a mesmerizing and hypnotic pattern, imbuing his pieces with a sacred, almost spiritual quality. Retna’s prints, paintings and murals exude an aura of mystery, drawing viewers into an aesthetic universe that feels both ancient and futuristic.
His technique is deeply rooted in graffiti, a practice that taught him how to manipulate line, form, and structure in large-scale formats. Working primarily with spray paint, acrylic, and enamel, he applies his signature script in layers, building a textured surface. His process involves both spontaneity and precision, as he crafts each character with an assured hand, maintaining the structural integrity of his intricate designs. This unique approach allows Retna to transform walls, buildings, and even airplanes into monumental works of art that dominate the landscape. His murals, whether covering buildings in Los Angeles or appearing on the facades of European galleries, command attention through their monumental scale and meticulous craftsmanship.
Discover RETNA prints for sale at Guy Hepner and to buy RETNA original art, contact our New York and London galleries via info@guyhepner.com