Guy Hepner Gallery

Retna Sacred Scars For Sale

Retna
Retna - Sacred Scars, 2014, Oil paint on Arches Watercolor paper

Sacred Scars, 2014

Oil paint on Arches Watercolor paper

40 x 26 in 101.6 x 66 cm

About this work

Retna's watercolors showcase a softer, more fluid aspect of his artistic expression, contrasting with his typically bold, graffiti-inspired style. These pieces blend vibrant hues and delicate washes, highlighting his mastery over different mediums. Retna, also known as Marquis Lewis, employs his signature calligraphic scripts in these works, allowing the translucent qualities of watercolor to add a luminous, ethereal dimension. The flowing forms and vivid color interplay create a sense of movement and spontaneity. Through his watercolors, Retna explores themes of language, identity, and spirituality, offering viewers a fresh perspective on his diverse and evolving artistic practice

Price on Application

Edition & Provenance

Year
2014
Medium
Oil paint on Arches Watercolor paper

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About the Paintings Series

Explore Retna's compelling Paintings series, a curated collection showcasing the acclaimed Los Angeles-based artist's masterful exploration of line, language, and visual storytelling. This series encompasses works such as Sensations of a Black Line, Straight Shooter, Sacred Scars, and Esta es la Cuenta, each demonstrating Retna's signature fusion of abstract mark-making and conceptual depth.

Known for his distinctive approach to contemporary art, Retna's paintings combine gestural abstraction with lyrical elements, creating pieces that resonate with collectors seeking both aesthetic sophistication and cultural significance. The series reflects his continued evolution as an artist, balancing raw expressionism with refined technique.

These works have established themselves within the contemporary art market, appealing to seasoned collectors and emerging enthusiasts alike. Whether you're drawn to the emotional intensity of Sacred Scars or the dynamic composition of Crooked Just Like You, each painting offers a unique entry point into Retna's artistic vision.

Enquire for availability and pricing information on pieces from this significant series.

Artistic Development

Retna's paintings extend the calligraphic script system he developed through years of mural and street practice into a more intimate, gallery-scale format, allowing for the layering, colour experimentation, and compositional density that large-scale outdoor works do not always accommodate. Works such as Sacred Scars and Sensations of a Black Line demonstrate the range of his mark-making — from dense, rhythmic fields of script to more sparse, gestural compositions — while retaining the underlying discipline of a visual language built from multiple historical writing traditions.

Retna's practice has been exhibited internationally in both gallery and museum contexts, and his collaborations with major fashion and music brands have introduced his distinctive visual language to audiences well beyond the traditional contemporary art world.

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Sacred Scars

About Retna

Retna, born Marquis Lewis, has established a robust and dynamic presence within the contemporary art market, attracting a global collecting base drawn to his distinctive visual language. His auction performance reflects a consistent demand, with works frequently appearing at major houses such as Phillips, Sotheby's, and Christie's.

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