What kind of artist is RETNA?

What kind of artist RETNA is depends on what stage of his career you're considering. Growing up in Los Angeles, RETNA was mesmerized by the graffiti that surrounded him. He began practicing the art form and adopted the name RETNA from a Wu-Tang Clan song. In the mid-1990s, he began making murals on walls, trains and freeway overpasses throughout the city. RETNA later transformed from a street artist into a break-out star in the contemporary art world. At first glance, RETNA's prints and paintings look like an undiscovered ancient script. He has created an original alphabet, fusing together influences from ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs, Arabic, Asian calligraphy, graffiti, blackletter, Roman lettering and Hebrew. Shop a selection of RETNA art on 1stDibs.