| ← Previous revision |
Revision as of 23:59, 21 April 2026 |
| Line 13: |
Line 13: |
|
| website = |
|
| website = |
|
}} |
|
}} |
|
'''Marquis Duriel Lewis''', known professionally as '''Retna''', is an American artist known for calligraphic murals.[https://www.economist.com/prospero/2011/02/21/the-q-and-a-retna-artist][https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/music/this-legendary-street-artist-has-done-walls-shoes-and-bieber-albums-now-hes-trying-opera/2017/09/01/20f1bf6e-8c36-11e7-a2b0-e68cbf0b1f19_story.html] Emerging from the [[Los Angeles]] [[graffiti]] scene in the 1990s, he developed a distinctive script fusing elements of [[Egyptian hieroglyphs]], [[Arabic calligraphy|Arabic]] and [[Hebrew alphabet|Hebrew]] calligraphy, [[Blackletter|Gothic blackletter]], and [[Chicano art movement|Chicano]] graffiti. His work has been featured on public walls, in gallery exhibitions, on operatic sets, and in collaborations with fashion houses. |
|
'''Marquis Duriel Lewis''', known professionally as '''Retna''', is an American artist known for calligraphic murals. name="auto5">{{Cite web|url=https://www.economist.com/prospero/2011/02/21/the-q-and-a-retna-artist|title=The Q&A: Retna, artist|via=The Economist}}[https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/music/this-legendary-street-artist-has-done-walls-shoes-and-bieber-albums-now-hes-trying-opera/2017/09/01/20f1bf6e-8c36-11e7-a2b0-e68cbf0b1f19_story.html] Emerging from the [[Los Angeles]] [[graffiti]] scene in the 1990s, he developed a distinctive script fusing elements of [[Egyptian hieroglyphs]], [[Arabic calligraphy|Arabic]] and [[Hebrew alphabet|Hebrew]] calligraphy, [[Blackletter|Gothic blackletter]], and [[Chicano art movement|Chicano]] graffiti. His work has been featured on public walls, in gallery exhibitions, on operatic sets, and in collaborations with fashion houses. |
|
|
|
|
|
==Early life and education== |
|
==Early life and education== |
|
Retna was born Marquis Duriel Lewis in Los Angeles in 1979. He grew up in the [[Mid City, Los Angeles|Mid-City]] neighborhood and has a mixed [[African Americans|African-American]], [[Pipil people|Pipil]], [[Spaniards|Spanish]], and [[Cherokee]] heritage.[https://www.artcritic.com/en/retna-between-graffiti-spirituality-and-illumination/][https://www.barnebys.co.uk/blog/retna-the-star-that-keeps-on-rising] As a teenager, he began painting with graffiti crews, including Art Work Rebels (AWR), Mad Society Kings (MSK), and The Seventh Letter. In 1996, he adopted the moniker “Retna” from a [[Wu-Tang Clan]] song lyric.>https://www.artcritic.com/en/retna-between-graffiti-spirituality-and-illumination/>[https://www.sfchronicle.com/style/article/Street-artist-Retna-brings-outlaw-sensibility-to-10607253.php] |
|
Retna was born Marquis Duriel Lewis in Los Angeles in 1979. He grew up in the [[Mid City, Los Angeles|Mid-City]] neighborhood and has a mixed [[African Americans|African-American]], [[Pipil people|Pipil]], [[Spaniards|Spanish]], and [[Cherokee]] heritage. name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.artcritic.com/en/retna-between-graffiti-spirituality-and-illumination/|title=RETNA: Between graffiti, spirituality, and illumination • ArtCritic}} name="auto2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.barnebys.co.uk/blog/retna-the-star-that-keeps-on-rising|title=RETNA: The star that keeps on rising | Barnebys Magazine|date=5 October 2017|website=Barnebys.co.uk}} As a teenager, he began painting with graffiti crews, including Art Work Rebels (AWR), Mad Society Kings (MSK), and The Seventh Letter. In 1996, he adopted the moniker “Retna” from a [[Wu-Tang Clan]] song lyric. name="auto1"/> name="auto7">{{Cite web|url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/style/article/Street-artist-Retna-brings-outlaw-sensibility-to-10607253.php|title=Street artist Retna brings outlaw sensibility to Opera’s Aida|first=By Tony|last=Bravo|date=11 November 2016|website=San Francisco Chronicle}} |
|
|
|
|
|
Retna studied letterforms independently, influenced by medieval manuscripts, [[Art Nouveau]], [[Keith Haring]], and [[Jean-Michel Basquiat]].[https://ocula.com/artists/retna/] |
|
Retna studied letterforms independently, influenced by medieval manuscripts, [[Art Nouveau]], [[Keith Haring]], and [[Jean-Michel Basquiat]]. name="auto3">{{Cite web|url=https://ocula.com/artists/retna/|title=Retna's Art For Sale, Exhibitions & Biography|date=21 April 2026|website=ocula.com}} |
|
|
|
|
|
==Career== |
|
==Career== |
|
===Graffiti and murals=== |
|
===Graffiti and murals=== |
|
Retna's early work consisted of large-scale graffiti in Los Angeles. In 1999, he participated in his first gallery exhibition, ''Contemporary Corruption''.>https://ocula.com/artists/retna/> Throughout the 2000s, he became known for murals on buildings in Los Angeles, [[Wynwood Art District|Miami's Wynwood district]], [[New York City]]'s [[The Houston Bowery Wall|Bowery/Houston Wall]], and a 21-story tower in [[Mexico City]].>https://www.barnebys.co.uk/blog/retna-the-star-that-keeps-on-rising>[https://gothamist.com/arts-entertainment/street-artist-retna-does-houstonbowery-mural] His public commission for the West Hollywood Park Murals (2011), created with [[Shepard Fairey]] and [[Kenny Scharf]], was later recognized by the [[Americans for the Arts]] Public Art Network Year in Review program.[https://www.weho.org/Home/Components/News/News/7823/23] |
|
Retna's early work consisted of large-scale graffiti in Los Angeles. In 1999, he participated in his first gallery exhibition, ''Contemporary Corruption''. name="auto3"/> Throughout the 2000s, he became known for murals on buildings in Los Angeles, [[Wynwood Art District|Miami's Wynwood district]], [[New York City]]'s [[The Houston Bowery Wall|Bowery/Houston Wall]], and a 21-story tower in [[Mexico City]]. name="auto2"/>[{{Cite web|url=https://gothamist.com/arts-entertainment/street-artist-retna-does-houstonbowery-mural|title=Street Artist RETNA Does Houston/Bowery Mural|first=Ben|last=YakasShare|date=4 March 2012|website=Gothamist}}] His public commission for the West Hollywood Park Murals (2011), created with [[Shepard Fairey]] and [[Kenny Scharf]], was later recognized by the [[Americans for the Arts]] Public Art Network Year in Review program. name="auto4">https://www.weho.org/Home/Components/News/News/7823/23 |
|
|
|
|
|
Retna is a member of The Seventh Letter collective. His notable collaborations include the 2010 mural ''Blessed Are The Meek'' with El Mac.>https://www.artcritic.com/en/retna-between-graffiti-spirituality-and-illumination/> He has also completed murals for Coney Art Walls in [[Brooklyn]] and for street-art festivals.[https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-7-street-artists-not-named-banksy-making-news] |
|
Retna is a member of The Seventh Letter collective. His notable collaborations include the 2010 mural ''Blessed Are The Meek'' with El Mac. name="auto1"/> He has also completed murals for Coney Art Walls in [[Brooklyn]] and for street-art festivals.[{{Cite web|url=https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-7-street-artists-not-named-banksy-making-news|title=7 Street Artists Not Named Banksy Making Headlines|first=Isaac|last=Kaplan|date=20 August 2015|website=Artsy}}] |
|
|
|
|
|
===Later projects=== |
|
===Later projects=== |
|
Retna has painted jets for VistaJet[https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2011-02-14/graffiti-artist-trades-street-vandalism-for-bombardier-jet-gig?embedded-checkout=true], designed scarves for [[Louis Vuitton]], sneakers for [[Nike]], and produced advertising campaigns for [[Chanel]] and [[Helmut Lang]].>https://www.barnebys.co.uk/blog/retna-the-star-that-keeps-on-rising>>https://www.sfchronicle.com/style/article/Street-artist-Retna-brings-outlaw-sensibility-to-10607253.php> In 2015, he created the album cover artwork for [[Justin Bieber]]'s album ''[[Purpose (Justin Bieber album)|Purpose]]''.>https://www.barnebys.co.uk/blog/retna-the-star-that-keeps-on-rising>>https://www.sfchronicle.com/style/article/Street-artist-Retna-brings-outlaw-sensibility-to-10607253.php> Collectors of his canvases include Kevin Huvane, [[Darren Star]], [[Patrick Dempsey]], and [[Usher (musician)|Usher]].[https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/fashion-graffiti-las-street-art-901551/]>https://www.economist.com/prospero/2011/02/21/the-q-and-a-retna-artist> |
|
Retna has painted jets for VistaJet name="auto6">https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2011-02-14/graffiti-artist-trades-street-vandalism-for-bombardier-jet-gig?embedded-checkout=true, designed scarves for [[Louis Vuitton]], sneakers for [[Nike]], and produced advertising campaigns for [[Chanel]] and [[Helmut Lang]]. name="auto2"/> name="auto7"/> In 2015, he created the album cover artwork for [[Justin Bieber]]'s album ''[[Purpose (Justin Bieber album)|Purpose]]''. name="auto2"/> name="auto7"/> Collectors of his canvases include Kevin Huvane, [[Darren Star]], [[Patrick Dempsey]], and [[Usher (musician)|Usher]].[{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/fashion-graffiti-las-street-art-901551/|title=Fashion, Graffiti and L.A.’s Street Art Scene: 8 Artists to Know|first=Maxwell|last=Williams|date=10 June 2016}}] name="auto5"/> |
|
|
|
|
|
In 2007, RETNA collaborated with El Mac and Reyeson on the mural “La Reina del Sur” for [[Art Basel Miami Beach]]. He painted the façade of the [[Pasadena Museum of California Art]] in 2011 for the exhibition ''Street Cred: Graffiti Art from Concrete to Canvas'', and completed the Houston Bowery mural in New York in 2012.>https://ocula.com/artists/retna/> In 2018, he created a typographic mural for the Coney Art Walls project in New York.>https://ocula.com/artists/retna/> |
|
In 2007, RETNA collaborated with El Mac and Reyeson on the mural “La Reina del Sur” for [[Art Basel Miami Beach]]. He painted the façade of the [[Pasadena Museum of California Art]] in 2011 for the exhibition ''Street Cred: Graffiti Art from Concrete to Canvas'', and completed the Houston Bowery mural in New York in 2012. name="auto3"/> In 2018, he created a typographic mural for the Coney Art Walls project in New York. name="auto3"/> |
|
|
|
|
|
Retna continued to work internationally through the 2020s, designing murals for Mexico City's [[Paseo de la Reforma|Reforma Avenue]] and for civic projects in Miami and Los Angeles.>https://ocula.com/artists/retna/> |
|
Retna continued to work internationally through the 2020s, designing murals for Mexico City's [[Paseo de la Reforma|Reforma Avenue]] and for civic projects in Miami and Los Angeles. name="auto3"/> |
|
|
|
|
|
===Gallery exhibitions and installations=== |
|
===Gallery exhibitions and installations=== |
|
Retna's 2011 touring exhibition, ''The Hallelujah World Tour'', showcased his work in Los Angeles and Miami.>https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2011-02-14/graffiti-artist-trades-street-vandalism-for-bombardier-jet-gig?embedded-checkout=true</ref> In 2013, he mounted ''Para mi gente'' at the [[Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles|Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles]] (MOCA). He presented solo shows at [[London]]'s Maddox Gallery in 2017 and 2021.>https://www.barnebys.co.uk/blog/retna-the-star-that-keeps-on-rising> Other exhibitions include ''La Cuenta Larga'' in Mexico City (2018) and ''Margraves'' (2017) and ''Love Letter | Carta de Amor'' at Madison Gallery in [[San Diego]].[https://ranchandcoast.com/seen/madison-gallery-hosts-opening-reception-with-retna/][https://hypebeast.com/2017/10/retna-margraves-exhibit-interview] |
|
Retna's 2011 touring exhibition, ''The Hallelujah World Tour'', showcased his work in Los Angeles and Miami. name="auto6"/> In 2013, he mounted ''Para mi gente'' at the [[Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles|Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles]] (MOCA). He presented solo shows at [[London]]'s Maddox Gallery in 2017 and 2021. name="auto2"/> Other exhibitions include ''La Cuenta Larga'' in Mexico City (2018) and ''Margraves'' (2017) and ''Love Letter | Carta de Amor'' at Madison Gallery in [[San Diego]].[{{Cite web|url=https://ranchandcoast.com/seen/madison-gallery-hosts-opening-reception-with-retna/|title=Madison Gallery hosts opening reception with RETNA|first=Anya|last=Shah|date=9 October 2025}}][https://hypebeast.com/2017/10/retna-margraves-exhibit-interview] |
|
|
|
|
|
In 2016, the [[Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco]] invited him to create a site-specific installation at the [[Legion of Honor (museum)|Legion of Honor]] for the exhibition ''The Future of the Past''.>https://www.barnebys.co.uk/blog/retna-the-star-that-keeps-on-rising> That same year, he designed monumental projections and backdrops for [[San Francisco Opera]]'s and [[Washington National Opera]]'s productions of [[Giuseppe Verdi|Verdi]]'s ''[[Aida]]''.>https://www.barnebys.co.uk/blog/retna-the-star-that-keeps-on-rising>>https://www.sfchronicle.com/style/article/Street-artist-Retna-brings-outlaw-sensibility-to-10607253.php> |
|
In 2016, the [[Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco]] invited him to create a site-specific installation at the [[Legion of Honor (museum)|Legion of Honor]] for the exhibition ''The Future of the Past''. name="auto2"/> That same year, he designed monumental projections and backdrops for [[San Francisco Opera]]'s and [[Washington National Opera]]'s productions of [[Giuseppe Verdi|Verdi]]'s ''[[Aida]]''. name="auto2"/> name="auto7"/> |
|
|
|
|
|
==Art style== |
|
==Art style== |
|
Retna's art is centered on a unique script that combines Egyptian hieroglyphs, Arabic and Hebrew calligraphy, Gothic blackletter, and Los Angeles graffiti lettering.>https://www.artcritic.com/en/retna-between-graffiti-spirituality-and-illumination/>[https://gq.co.za/culture/2-08-21-how-retna-and-veronika-mudra-are-redefining-love-and-art-through-creative-collaboration/] ''The Economist'' described it as a fusion of “hieroglyphics, calligraphy and graffiti.” His paintings often use a monochromatic palette, such as gold, black, and white.>https://www.economist.com/prospero/2011/02/21/the-q-and-a-retna-artist> |
|
Retna's art is centered on a unique script that combines Egyptian hieroglyphs, Arabic and Hebrew calligraphy, Gothic blackletter, and Los Angeles graffiti lettering. name="auto1"/> name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://gq.co.za/culture/2-08-21-how-retna-and-veronika-mudra-are-redefining-love-and-art-through-creative-collaboration/|title=How RETNA Marquis Lewis and Veronika Mudra Lewis are redefining art and love through creative collaboration|first=Luthando|last=Vikilahle|website=GQ}} ''The Economist'' described it as a fusion of “hieroglyphics, calligraphy and graffiti.” His paintings often use a monochromatic palette, such as gold, black, and white. name="auto5"/> |
|
|
|
|
|
Retna has stated that his personal heritage informs this visual language and that the script is intended to “unify cultures.” His influences include medieval manuscripts, Art Nouveau, Keith Haring, and Jean-Michel Basquiat.>https://ocula.com/artists/retna/> |
|
Retna has stated that his personal heritage informs this visual language and that the script is intended to “unify cultures.” His influences include medieval manuscripts, Art Nouveau, Keith Haring, and Jean-Michel Basquiat. name="auto3"/> |
|
|
|
|
|
==Personal life== |
|
==Personal life== |
|
Retna identifies with his multicultural heritage. He is married to [[Veronika Mudra-Lewis]], a human rights advocate and the founder of White Ribbon USA.>https://gq.co.za/culture/2-08-21-how-retna-and-veronika-mudra-are-redefining-love-and-art-through-creative-collaboration/> |
|
Retna identifies with his multicultural heritage. He is married to [[Veronika Mudra-Lewis]], a human rights advocate and the founder of White Ribbon USA. name="auto"/> |
|
|
|
|
|
==Awards and recognition== |
|
==Awards and recognition== |
|
The West Hollywood Park Murals (2011), a collaboration with Shepard Fairey and Kenny Scharf, were selected by the Americans for the Arts Public Art Network Year in Review program.>https://www.weho.org/Home/Components/News/News/7823/23> His stage designs for ''Aida'' were noted by critics for bridging street art and opera. His paintings have been acquired by public and private collectors.>https://www.sfchronicle.com/style/article/Street-artist-Retna-brings-outlaw-sensibility-to-10607253.php> |
|
The West Hollywood Park Murals (2011), a collaboration with Shepard Fairey and Kenny Scharf, were selected by the Americans for the Arts Public Art Network Year in Review program. name="auto4"/> His stage designs for ''Aida'' were noted by critics for bridging street art and opera. His paintings have been acquired by public and private collectors. name="auto7"/> |
|
|
|
|
|
== References == |
|
== References == |
