Retna

*1979
/
United States

RETNA (born Marquis Lewis) is a contemporary artist best known for his graffiti work. Raised in Los Angeles, California, he began his career in the early 1990s and developed a unique script inspired by a mix of Blackletter, Egyptian hieroglyphics, Arabic, Hebrew calligraphy, and traditional street graffiti. Retna has expressed that his interest in typography stems "directly from [his] graffiti background," describing it as a way to bridge the gap between street art and fine art.

RETNA has exhibited in major cities like Los Angeles, Miami, London, New York, and Hong Kong, and has worked with renowned brands such as VistaJet, Louis Vuitton, CHANEL, and Nike. Notably, his artwork graced the cover of Justin Bieber's Purpose album in 2015.

Special
events

Monument

|

RH West Palm

,

2017

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RETNA painted Monument, a mural spanning the eastern façade of RH West Palm’s flagship gallery. Commissioned as part of the brand’s integration of art and architecture, the work anchors the 80,000-square-foot space in visual culture and urban scale.

RETNA for the Kennedy Center

|

Washington D.C.

,

2017

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As part of the Kennedy Center’s visual arts initiative, RETNA produced large-scale murals for public areas during its production of Aida. The commission brought his street-based aesthetic into one of the country’s major performing arts institutions.

RETNA for Aida

|

San Francisco Opera

,

2017

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For San Francisco Opera’s production of Aida, later restaged at the Kennedy Center, RETNA created a series of calligraphic designs that shaped the staging. His script echoed the opera’s central tension between love and duty, marking each scene with visual and emotional force.

RETNA for Justin Bieber

|

Purpose

,

2015

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RETNA designed the cover of Justin Bieber’s Purpose, combining his script with a staged photograph of the singer. Released in multiple colorways and teased on Instagram, the image extended RETNA’s crossover into music, fashion, and celebrity culture.

RETNA for Helmut Lang

|

West Hollywood

,

2014

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Helmut Lang’s West Hollywood boutique, designed by Standard Architecture, features RETNA’s silver graffiti on the display tables. The intervention introduces a graphic counterpoint to the space’s minimalist materials, including plaster, charcoaled wood, and natural light.

RETNA for Louis Vuitton

|

Miami

,

2013

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For its temporary storefront in Miami’s Design District, Louis Vuitton commissioned RETNA to create a mural—its first public-facing artwork of this kind. The piece reimagined the brand’s name in looping script, using colors drawn from the city’s buildings and light. The commission coincided with Art Basel and included a limited-edition scarf and three paintings for the VIP salon.

RETNA for Chanel

|

Beverly Hills

,

2011

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Chanel invited RETNA to transform the interior of its Beverly Hills flagship store with his script, rendered in black on black. Painted directly on the boutique’s walls, the work introduced his contemporary glyphs into a couture environment.

RETNA for VistaJet

|

New York

,

2011

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The Hallelujah World Tour marked RETNA’s first solo exhibition in New York. Sponsored by VistaJet, the show brought together painting, sculpture, and photography, highlighting his layered visual language. As part of the partnership, RETNA also painted a custom work on the tail of a VistaJet Global Express XRS.

About

Retna

Name

Retna

DAte of birth

*1979

Style

Art form

Country

United States

Solo shows

2011

|

The Hallelujah World Tour

,

Vista Jet

,

New York City

,

USA

Collective Exhibitions

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Art fairs

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Books + Press

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Clients + collabs

2017

|

Restoration Hardware

,

Monument

,

RH West Palm

,

USA

2017

|

RETNA for the Kennedy Center

,

Production of Aida

,

Washington D.C.

,

USA

2016

|

RETNA for Aida

,

San Francisco Opera

,

San Francisco

,

USA

2015

|

RETNA for Justin Bieber

,

Purpose Album Cover

,

,

2014

|

RETNA for Helmut Lang

,

West Hollywood Boutique

,

Los Angeles

,

USA

2013

|

RETNA for Louis Vuitton

,

Miami Design District Louis Vuitton Storefront

,

Miami

,

USA

2011

|

RETNA for Chanel

,

Beverly Hills Flagship Store

,

Los Angeles

,

USA

Awards

No items found.

Education

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Collections

No items found.

Galleries

No items found.

Upcoming
events

Script of the Flame

Los Angeles, CA

5/31/2025
2/7/25
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Markus Klinko Photographs Heidi Montag at Jonathan Club

at Jonathan Club, Los Angeles

5/11/2025
9/5/25
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Peak Inside RETNAs SOS "Sequence of Sentences"

at Gravitas, Beverly Hills

3/13/2025
12/3/25
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The Core Fine Art presents RETNA - SOS

"Sequence of Sentences"

2/17/2025
17/2/25
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A Moment with Bowie at the Jonathan Club

This January 5th 2025, marks what would have been David Bowie’s 78th birthday, a moment to reflect on an artist who continually reshaped the contours of identity and fame. In the sunroom of the Jonathan Club, The Core presents two photography of Bowie by Markus Klinko: “Smoking” and “Meditation,” each of which offers a different facet of the artist’s complex persona.

2/1/2025
13/2/25
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The Core Fine Art presents "DISCOVERING MR. BRAINWASH"

at the Jonathan Club

10/7/2024
6/10/24
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The Core Fine Art x The Vanderpump Dog Foundation

Vanderpump Dog Gala at the Maybourne Beverly Hills Hotel

11/15/2024
29/7/24
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The Core Fine Art x Jonathan Club, Los Angeles

DISCOVERING MR. BRAINWASH

8/17/2024
29/7/24
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The Core Fine Art Grand Opening

The Core Fine Art pioneers a new era of art exhibitions with pop-up showcases in unconventional spaces. From studio warehouses to members clubs, these exhibitions defy the traditional boundaries of white-wall gallery spaces, inviting diverse audiences to experience art in unexpected and thought-provoking ways.

2/5/2024
2/5/24
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The Core Fine Art x We Love Foundation

Weaving Hope: The Core Fine Art’s Donation Illuminates the 2024 We Love Foundation Gala

Grand Opening

Feb 29 - Mar 03

The Core Fine Art x mission:brain

The Core Fine Art and mission:brain unite for Neurosurgical Advancements

The Core Fine Art x Nightbird Studios

Art Meets Music: The Core Fine Art at Nightbird Recording Studios

4/29/2024
2/5/24
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