Artist: RETNA
Title: Untitled, Black and White Graphic Abstract
Medium: Original Mixed Media - Acrylic paint, spray paint, glitter, paper towels, cardboard, and tape on canvas
Year: c. 2010-2020
Size: 86" x 62"
Edition: Original
Documentation: Includes original gallery certificate of authenticity including stated provenance direct from RETNA's studio; full documented record of uninterrupted provenance
This monumental work by Los Angeles–based artist RETNA (Marquis Lewis) exemplifies the artist's distinctive visual language, a complex system of calligraphic forms informed by hieroglyphics, Old English script, Arabic, Hebrew, and traditional graffiti. Measuring an impressive 86 by 62 inches, the piece commands immediate attention through both its physical scale and dense compositional structure.
Executed in a striking palette of black and white, the work's layered surface reveals RETNA's innovative use of mixed media. Acrylic and spray paint form the bold typographic strokes, while the incorporation of glitter adds a subtle metallic shimmer that activates the work under shifting light. Unconventional materials such as paper towels, cardboard, and tape contribute to the tactile complexity of the surface, underscoring RETNA's interest in material experimentation and urban-inspired texture.
The overall composition demonstrates the artist's ability to merge precision and spontaneity—drips and splatters convey an immediacy of gesture, while the interlocking letterforms maintain structural cohesion. This interplay between control and fluidity is central to RETNA's aesthetic, reflecting his roots in street art and his engagement with the visual traditions of multiple cultures.
This work is accompanied by an original gallery Certificate of Authenticity, which includes a stated provenance direct from RETNA's studio, as well as a fully documented, unbroken record of ownership. Its scale, material richness, and secure provenance make it a significant example of the artist's practice.
Note: This piece is not currently framed, the images of it framed are mockups to show you how it might look after framing.
About RETNA
RETNA (born Marquis Lewis in 1979 in Los Angeles, California) is an American contemporary artist widely recognized for his distinctive visual language that blends calligraphy, global typography, street art, and abstraction. Emerging from the West Coast graffiti scene in the early 1990s, RETNA has become one of the most influential and visually recognizable artists working today, with a style that transcends genre and medium.
RETNA first gained attention as a teenager writing graffiti in Los Angeles, where he developed a fascination with letterforms, symbols, and the rhythm of written language. Drawing from a wide range of sources—including Gothic script, Arabic and Hebrew calligraphy, traditional Chinese characters, Egyptian hieroglyphs, and Native American visual traditions—he created a unique and highly stylized script that appears at once ancient and futuristic. His work engages with ideas of language and meaning, often presenting text that is visually coded rather than directly readable.
What began as urban graffiti evolved into a disciplined, studio-based practice. RETNA's paintings, murals, and works on paper are characterized by complex compositions, repeated motifs, and a deep engagement with texture, scale, and surface. He frequently works in a limited palette—often using black, white, gold, and red—to heighten contrast and impact. His use of script as abstraction invites viewers to interpret his works not through direct translation, but through rhythm, movement, and emotional resonance.
RETNA's work has been exhibited internationally, in galleries and institutions across the United States, Europe, and Asia. He has painted large-scale public murals in cities around the world, and his collectors include museums, private individuals, and major brands. In 2011, he gained further visibility when he designed the cover art for Justin Bieber's album Purpose, introducing his aesthetic to a mainstream audience. Despite this commercial success, RETNA maintains a strong commitment to the roots of his work in street culture and the visual history of resistance and identity.
While primarily known for his painting and mural work, RETNA has also explored other media including photography, sculpture, and fashion collaborations. Across all formats, his work continues to examine the expressive power of mark-making and the global nature of written and symbolic language.
RETNA's practice is both personal and political—rooted in cultural hybridity, spiritual symbolism, and the urban environment. His fusion of ancient and contemporary aesthetics challenges viewers to consider the power of visual communication beyond the limits of traditional literacy.
Today, RETNA stands as a central figure in the dialogue between graffiti, fine art, and global visual culture—an artist whose singular script has become an icon in its own right.
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