Paintings
12 works
Retna Even the Heart Skips a Beat (black on black) For Sale
Retna
Even the Heart Skips a Beat (black on black), 2024
2-color screenprint with black glitters added by hand, hand cut.
43 1/4 x 29 in 110 x 73.5 cm
Edition
Edition of 99
About this work
Retna's Even The Heart Skips a Beat (Black on Black) is a moody, immersive meditation on rhythm, emotion, and presence. Rendered in layered tones of deep black, the work relies on subtle shifts in texture and sheen to reveal his iconic script - an abstract alphabet drawn from global typographies. The monochrome palette creates a sense of quiet intensity, echoing the title’s suggestion of interruption or emotional jolt. At once restrained and powerful, this piece invites close, contemplative viewing, revealing RETNA’s mastery of contrast, nuance, and the expressive potential of mark-making in its most elemental form.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 meanings
Price on Application
Auction History
· Retna · Sotheby's · 2015-09 · $37,500
He's A Criminal No Different From Me. One Could Argue I Could Be Painted With The Same Brush · Retna · Phillips · 2023-05 · $12,419
Resurrect the Life of a Scribe · Retna · Christie's · 2024-12 · $81,900
It Ain't Dark No More · Retna · Phillips · 2024-10 · $17,780
Resurrect the Life of a Scribe · Retna · Christie's · 2021-07 · $68,750
More from this series
More series by Retna
About the Prints Series
Series Performance & Market Position
Retna's print editions offer collectors access to one of the most visually distinctive voices in contemporary street art — his calligraphic script system, developed from a range of historical writing traditions including Egyptian hieroglyphs, Mayan symbols, Hebrew, and Arabic, creates works that operate simultaneously as abstract visual composition and encoded personal language. At Guy Hepner, Retna works have attracted collectors drawn to the meeting point of street art, calligraphy, and cultural hybridity.
Retna's prints typically achieve $2,000–$15,000 at auction and in the primary market, with larger and more complex works commanding premiums. His collaborations with mainstream fashion and music brands have expanded his collector base while his gallery exhibitions have sustained institutional credibility.
Technical & Historical Context
Born Marquis Lewis in Los Angeles, Retna developed his script system over two decades of practice, creating a visual language that draws on his African American, Native American, El Salvadoran, and Scottish heritage. The script, while partially decipherable to those familiar with its source traditions, functions primarily as a formal visual system — dense, rhythmic, and highly personal.
His print editions translate the mural-scale energy of his wall works into reproducible form, typically using screenprint or giclée techniques to capture the fine detail of his calligraphic lines. The works function both as standalone compositions and as studies for larger-scale projects.
Individual Works & Collector Preferences
Prints featuring the densest calligraphic compositions — those that most fully capture the immersive quality of his mural work — command the strongest collector interest. Works with strong colour contrast between script and ground, and those from documented editions with clear publication history, are preferred.
Authentication & Condition Considerations
Retna signs and numbers his print editions. Works should come with documentation from their publishing context. The fine calligraphic lines are susceptible to damage from surface contact; works stored and framed appropriately retain full detail and value.
Investment Analysis & 2026 Acquisition Strategy
Retna's cultural presence continues to grow, sustained by high-profile collaborations and international mural commissions. His print editions represent accessible entry points into a body of work with expanding institutional recognition.
Contact Guy Hepner at 177 10th Avenue, New York to discuss Retna print availability and collection placement.
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.