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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
Even the Heart Skips a Beat (black on black), 20242-color screenprint with black glitters added by hand, hand cut.43 1/4 x 29 in
110 x 73.5 cmEdition of 99Copyright The ArtistRETNA, born Marquis Lewis, is an American street artist known for his distinctive calligraphic style that combines elements from ancient scripts, hieroglyphics, and modern graffiti. His intricate compositions are built...RETNA, born Marquis Lewis, is an American street artist known for his distinctive calligraphic style that combines elements from ancient scripts, hieroglyphics, and modern graffiti. His intricate compositions are built from a unique, invented alphabet, blending influences from Arabic, Egyptian, Hebrew, and Native American cultures, creating visual poems that are both cryptic and rhythmic. RETNA’s work often explores themes of identity, spirituality, and the power of language, capturing an aura of mystery and reverence. The bold, abstracted script, applied in sweeping, repetitive patterns, transforms walls, canvases, and even fashion items into meditative experiences that invite viewers to interpret deeper meanings35of 35Overview"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