*APC ART is proud to present a rare suite of three unique works by RETNA (Marquis Lewis), collectively titled “Diptych” — original acrylic paintings on wove paper, each measuring 18 × 24 inches. Executed in November 2020 at the artist’s Santa Fe Avenue studio in Los Angeles, these works are entirely unique 1/1 compositions and represent a striking example of RETNA’s celebrated calligraphic language.*

*RETNA, born Marquis Lewis in Los Angeles, is widely recognized as one of the most important and visually distinctive artists to emerge from the contemporary urban art movement. His signature script — an intricate symbolic language combining influences from ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics, Arabic calligraphy, Hebrew, Gothic blackletter, and modern graffiti — has become one of the most recognizable visual systems in contemporary art.*

*Over the past two decades, RETNA’s monumental murals have appeared across major cities worldwide, while his studio works have been exhibited in leading galleries and collected by major private collectors internationally. His ability to fuse street-born energy with art historical depth has positioned him as a pivotal figure bridging graffiti culture and contemporary fine art.*

*The works presented here embody the full sophistication of RETNA’s visual vocabulary. Executed in bold black acrylic on white wove paper, the compositions feature the artist’s iconic glyph-like characters arranged in dynamic vertical structures. The stark monochromatic palette emphasizes the sculptural weight and architectural rhythm of the forms, allowing the complexity of the language itself to take center stage.*

*RETNA’s script is not simply decorative; it functions as a personal visual language — a system of symbols that simultaneously references ancient communication systems and contemporary graffiti tagging culture. Each mark carries the precision of calligraphy while retaining the physical immediacy of street painting.*

*The triptych format further enhances the visual dialogue between the works. Though each sheet stands as a complete and autonomous composition, the grouping creates a rhythmic interplay across the wall, echoing the cadence of written language and reinforcing the monumental presence of the symbols.*

*Works executed in the artist’s Santa Fe Avenue studio hold particular significance within RETNA’s practice. Located in the heart of Los Angeles’s historic arts district, the studio served as the epicenter of the artist’s creative production during a pivotal period of his career. Paintings originating directly from this space carry a strong connection to the environment that shaped his global rise.*

*These works originate from a prominent private collection in Los Angeles and are being offered to the public for the first time, further enhancing their rarity and desirability within RETNA’s market.*

*As fully unique works on paper, the paintings occupy the most desirable category within RETNA’s studio output — original hand-executed compositions that preserve the immediacy and gestural authority of the artist’s mark.*

*APC ART is pleased to offer museum-quality archival framing options to ensure long-term preservation and a refined architectural presentation for this remarkable suite of works.*

*A powerful and highly collectible group of original RETNA works — bold, graphic, and deeply rooted in the visual language that has defined one of contemporary art’s most recognizable voices.*

*OFFERED EXCLUSIVELY BY APC ART* 
*MIA • ATL • NYC • LA • LONDON • PARIS • TOKYO*

Provenance
Private collection; Los Angeles, California. USA. 
Included with the work(s) will be a certificate of authenticity from APC ART, guaranteeing authenticity in perpetuity. 

Condition

The work(s) show incredibly well. As executed by the artist. Any imperfections are a result of the artist’s creative process.