RETNA Paintings
American, b. 1979
Born Marquis Lewis on March 24, 1979, in Los Angeles, CA, Retna joined the Los Angeles mural scene as a teenager.
As a youth of African-American, El Salvadorian and Cherokee descent growing up in Los Angeles, Retna was mesmerized by the gang graffiti that surrounded him. He began practicing the art form and adopted the name Retna from a Wu-Tang Clan song. In the mid-nineties, he began making murals on walls, trains and freeway overpasses throughout the city.
Retna transformed from a street artist to a break-out star in the contemporary art world. He garnered attention from Usher, an R&B artist, who commissioned the artist to create a portrait of Marvin Gaye, and MOCA director Jeffrey Deitch, who wrote in the September 2010 issue of Juxtapoz “one of the most exciting exhibitions...this year, anywhere, was Retna's exhibition at New Image Art.” MOCA also featured Retna's work in the major “Art in the Streets” exhibit, the first major U.S. museum survey of graffiti and street art.
At first glance, Retna’s prints and paintings look like an undiscovered ancient script: a series of hypnotic symbols — complex, beautiful and captivating. But he has created an original alphabet, fusing together influences from ancient Incan and Egyptian hieroglyphics, Arabic, Asian calligraphy, graffiti, blackletter, Roman lettering and Hebrew script.
Each piece carries meaning, conveying an event or dialogue that the artist experienced. The writing does not belong to a particular language. Retna explains, “I want my text to feel universal. I want people from different cultures to all find some similarity in it — whether they can read it or not.” He has also stated that “it is important to have art in the streets as a cultural fabric that is woven into the city for the upliftment of civic pride.”
Retna’s works are in the private collections of Jeffrey Deitch, Swizz Beats, Usher, and Dave Chappelle, among many others. His large-scale mural across the eastern exterior of Restoration Hardware’s new gallery in West Palm, Florida, was valued at $500,000 by the city’s Art in Public Places program.
Retna has collaborated with major fashion brands including Nike, Louis Vuitton, Chanel and Helmut Lang, and designed the artwork for Justin Bieber’s Purpose album cover. RETNA also acted as the artistic designer for the San Francisco and Washington National Opera’s production of “Aida."
Find original Retna art on 1stDibs.
(Biography provided by New Union Gallery)
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Artist: RETNA
UNTITLED
By RETNA
Located in Aventura, FL
Original acrylic on aluminum. Frame size 94 X 46 Inches.
Artwork is in overall excellent condition. A few minor stains to lower left side panel. Certificate of authenticity include...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Street Art RETNA Paintings
Materials
Acrylic
Yo!
By RETNA
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Marquis Lewis, a.k.a - RETNA was born in Los Angeles, from El Salvadorian, Cherokee, Spanish, and African American bloodlines. He chose the moniker “RETNA” from the lyrics to a Wu-Ta...
Category
2010s Contemporary RETNA Paintings
Materials
Acrylic
When Gods Gets Angry
By RETNA
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Marquis Lewis, a.k.a - RETNA was born in Los Angeles, from El Salvadorian, Cherokee, Spanish, and African American bloodlines. He chose the moniker “RETNA” from the lyrics to a Wu-Ta...
Category
2010s Contemporary RETNA Paintings
Materials
Enamel
A Night's Rest
By RETNA
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Marquis Lewis, a.k.a - RETNA was born in Los Angeles, from El Salvadorian, Cherokee, Spanish, and African American bloodlines. He chose the moniker “RETNA” from the lyrics to a Wu-Ta...
Category
2010s Contemporary RETNA Paintings
Materials
Acrylic
Basket Knots
By RETNA
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Marquis Lewis, a.k.a - RETNA was born in Los Angeles, from El Salvadorian, Cherokee, Spanish, and African American bloodlines. He chose the moniker “RETNA” from the lyrics to a Wu-Ta...
Category
2010s Contemporary RETNA Paintings
Materials
Acrylic
I Love You, Except You
By RETNA
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Marquis Lewis, a.k.a - RETNA was born in Los Angeles, from El Salvadorian, Cherokee, Spanish, and African American bloodlines. He chose the moniker “RETNA” from the lyrics to a Wu-Ta...
Category
2010s Contemporary RETNA Paintings
Materials
Acrylic
I Love You, Not Just You
By RETNA
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Marquis Lewis, a.k.a - RETNA was born in Los Angeles, from El Salvadorian, Cherokee, Spanish, and African American bloodlines. He chose the moniker “RETNA” from the lyrics to a Wu-Ta...
Category
2010s Contemporary RETNA Paintings
Materials
Acrylic
Untitled
By RETNA
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Marquis Lewis, a.k.a - RETNA was born in Los Angeles, from El Salvadorian, Cherokee, Spanish, and African American bloodlines. He chose the moniker “RETNA” from the lyrics to a Wu-Ta...
Category
2010s Contemporary RETNA Paintings
Materials
Acrylic
Untitled
By RETNA
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Marquis Lewis, a.k.a - RETNA was born in Los Angeles, from El Salvadorian, Cherokee, Spanish, and African American bloodlines. He chose the moniker “RETNA” from the lyrics to a Wu-Ta...
Category
2010s Contemporary RETNA Paintings
Materials
Acrylic
Untitled
By RETNA
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Marquis Lewis, a.k.a - RETNA was born in Los Angeles, from El Salvadorian, Cherokee, Spanish, and African American bloodlines. He chose the moniker “RETNA” from the lyrics to a Wu-Ta...
Category
2010s Contemporary RETNA Paintings
Materials
Acrylic
Diptych 2
By RETNA
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Marquis Lewis, a.k.a - RETNA was born in Los Angeles, from El Salvadorian, Cherokee, Spanish, and African American bloodlines. He chose the moniker “RETNA” from the lyrics to a Wu-Ta...
Category
2010s Contemporary RETNA Paintings
Materials
Acrylic
Slang Them Colors
By RETNA
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Marquis Lewis, a.k.a - RETNA was born in Los Angeles, from El Salvadorian, Cherokee, Spanish, and African American bloodlines. He chose the moniker “RETNA” from the lyrics to a Wu-Ta...
Category
2010s Contemporary RETNA Paintings
Materials
Acrylic
Untitled
By RETNA
Located in New York, NY
Signed in pencil, l.r.
This work is offered by CLAMP in New York City.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary RETNA Paintings
Materials
Paper, Ink
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Retna paintings for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a wide variety of authentic RETNA paintings available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by RETNA in acrylic paint, ink, paint and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 21st century and contemporary and is mostly associated with the street art style. Not every interior allows for large RETNA paintings, so small editions measuring 22 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Shepard Fairey, Banksy, and Mukesh Shah. RETNA paintings prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $140,000 and tops out at $140,000, while the average work can sell for $140,000.
Artists Similar to RETNA
Questions About RETNA Paintings
- What does RETNA’s art mean?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022What RETNA's art means is largely a matter of personal interpretation. The graffiti artist's intention is to spark conversations with his street art that incorporates elements of Egyptian Hieroglyphics and Hebrew and Arabic calligraphy. You'll find a variety of RETNA art on 1stDibs.
- What kind of artist is RETNA?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertFebruary 1, 2024What 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.