RETNA

Marquis Duriel Lewis, known professionally as Retna, is an American artist known for calligraphic murals. Emerging from the Los Angeles graffiti scene in the 1990s, he developed a distinctive script fusing elements of Egyptian hieroglyphs, Arabic and Hebrew calligraphy, Gothic blackletter, and 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 Retna was born Marquis Duriel Lewis in Los Angeles in 1979. He grew up in the Mid-City neighborhood and has a mixed African-American, Pipil, Spanish, and Cherokee heritage. 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.

Retna studied letterforms independently, influenced by medieval manuscripts, Art Nouveau, Keith Haring, and Jean-Michel Basquiat.

Career 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. 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.

Retna is a member of The Seventh Letter collective. His notable collaborations include the 2010 mural Blessed Are The Meek with El Mac.

Later projects Retna has painted jets for VistaJet , designed scarves for Louis Vuitton, sneakers for Nike, and produced advertising campaigns for Chanel and Helmut Lang.

In 2016, the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco invited him to create a site-specific installation at the Legion of Honor for the exhibition The Future of the Past. 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.

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.

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.

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. 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.