- published: 08 Nov 2012
- views: 63744
RETNA (born Marquis Lewis 1979) is a contemporary artist, primarily recognized for graffiti art. He was born and raised in Los Angeles, and started his career in the early 1990s. He developed a distinctive constructed script which is derived from Blackletter, Egyptian Hieroglyphics, Arabic, and Hebrew calligraphy, as well as more traditional types of street-based graffiti. In addition to exhibiting at institutions and galleries in Los Angeles, Miami, London, New York and Hong Kong, Retna has done advertising work for brands such as VistaJet, Louis Vuitton, and Nike. His artwork adorns the cover of Justin Bieber's Purpose album that debuted in 2015.
Born Marquis Lewis in 1979 in Los Angeles, he has African-American, Salvadorian and Cherokee ancestry. As a child, Lewis moved between several schools in the L.A. area, becoming more involved in graffiti culture at each location. In 1996, he chose the name Retna from a Wu-Tang Clan lyric.
Retna cites eclectic artistic influences, such as illuminated manuscripts, Renaissance imagery, and contemporary text-based art. Religious architecture and décor have long been a focus of his. He has mentioned Degas, Klimt, Basquiat, Haring and the Art Nouveau movement as historical references. Particular to his graffiti writing, Saber and David Choe are cited as influences, among others.
Graffiti Writer RETNA talks about his life, his love, and his motivation to create art. RETNA is a valiant and innovative unifier of culture. Through his uniquely curated alphabet of old english, hebrew, arab, asian and other calligraphy Retna has created his own universal text by which to translate his emotions, dreams, and poetry. He is also a kind and generous artist whose utmost goal is to share his work and put a smile on the face of those who enjoy and understand his dense rhythmic structures. As gallery owner Michael Kohn notes Retna is "Frans Kline meets Keith Haring," sophisticated yet deeply rooted in the traditions of the street art crews Retna either ran or became member to from the late 1980's til today. He has been featured in numerous museum exhibitions including MOCA's own...
We invited renowned street artist RETNA to paint the walls for the Legion of Honor's upcoming exhibition, The Future of the Past: Mummies and Medicine. The exhibition, along with RETNA's stunning work, is on view May 14, 2016–August 26, 2018.
Taking place on November 30, 2015, at Macaya Gallery, "ARTCELERATION" marks the accelerated evolution of street art from walls to luxury car, giving the highly-acclaimed artist, RETNA, the canvas of an art and luxury car collector's ultimate fantasy, a one-of-a-kind Ferrari F430 Challenge, courtesy of Ansa Motorcars. Known to be influenced by Egyptian hieroglyphics and calligraphy from the Middle East and Asia, RETNA is a world-renowned graffiti artist whose celebrity commissions include Justin Bieber's recent album cover, 'Purpose,' Louis Vuitton and Usher. This live exhibit marks the first time in RETNA's artistic career that his designs be showcased on a luxury automobile!
This LA-based street artist is currently on the road with his latest exhibition, the "Halleluja World Tour". Despite hints of Asian calligraphy, Incan and Egyptian hieroglyphics, Hebrew and Arabic script in his work, Retna likens himself more to a typographer rather than inventor of a new language. He talks to Crane.tv about his gang-inspired beginnings, his need to be unhappy and the job that he is here to do. Address: The Old Dairy, 7 Wakefield St, London, WC1N 1PB
A rare look inside Retna's Los Angeles studio. In this interview we learn about some unexpected influences in his early work. http://www.digitalretna.com/blog/ http://instagram.com/lovewestcoast/
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Graffiti artist Retna shares the unique technique, vision, and ambition behind his original mural for the West Hollywood Library. Featuring the song "Last Known Surroundings" by Explosions in the Sky. For more info: http://www.vfagenda.com/artinthestreets/
Southern California Street Muralists El Mac & Retna
There's a place for us,
Somewhere a place for us.
Peace and quiet and open air
Wait for us
Somewhere.
There's a time for us,
Someday a time for us,
Time together with time to spare,
Time to learn, time to care,
Someday
Somewhere
We'll find a new way of living,
We'll find a way of forgiving
Somewhere.
There's a place for us,
A time and a place for us.
Hold my hand and we're half way there.
Hold my hand and I'll take you there
Somehow,
Someday,
We'll find a new way of living
We'll find a way, of forgiving
Somewhere
There's a place for us,
Somewhere a place for us.
Peace and quiet and open air
Hold my hand and I'll take you there
Somehow,
Someday,