*APC ART is pleased to present an exceptional and historically important early screenprint by RETNA (Marquis Lewis), titled “Un Dicho.”*

Published in **2009** by **Paperworks Laboratories**, *“Un Dicho”* is an outstanding example of RETNA’s early, fully realized visual language—one that would ultimately propel him into the upper echelon of contemporary and street art. Executed as a **three-color, full-bleed silkscreen print** in **metallic black, metallic silver, and metallic red** on **Stonehenge 250gsm, 100% cotton archival paper**, the work measures **30” x 22”** and is **hand signed and numbered by the artist in graphite pencil** from a **strictly limited edition of only 50 works**.

This composition encapsulates the precise stylistic and conceptual motifs that made RETNA one of the most sought-after—and most controversial—artists of his generation. The dense, architectural blocks of calligraphy, sharp verticals, rhythmic spacing, and metallic surfaces exemplify his proprietary script, often referred to as *Margraves*. This language, which has been studied by scholars and art historians, draws from **Arabic, Egyptian, Hebrew, Old English, and other ancient typographic systems**, forming a coded visual poetry that resists direct translation while remaining deeply emotive and commanding. In *“Un Dicho,”* the interplay of color and structure creates both tension and balance, demonstrating RETNA’s ability to merge street energy with museum-level compositional discipline.

Works from this period are particularly important, as they represent RETNA at a moment when his language was becoming fully crystallized—before large-scale institutional commissions and global brand collaborations, yet already unmistakably his own. This is the exact visual vocabulary that led to major museum placements, international exhibitions, and collaborations with **Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Nike, VistaJet**, and more.

RETNA’s career has been as complex as it has been influential. His rise was accompanied by periods of profound personal turmoil, including well-documented struggles with **substance abuse, self-destruction, and legal issues**. One of the most infamous moments in his history occurred when he **set fire to his own exhibition**, an act that shocked the art world and further cemented his reputation as both a visionary and a deeply volatile figure. Despite these challenges—and, in many ways, because of the raw authenticity behind them—RETNA has remained relentlessly relevant. His work continues to be pursued by **serious private collectors and major institutions**, who recognize both the artistic significance and cultural weight of his output.

With an edition size of only **50**, now nearly **seventeen years old**, *“Un Dicho”* is increasingly rare and seldom available on the open market. The work has **never been framed** and has been **stored flat to archival standards** since publication.

The work is **in hand** and will **ship immediately from the United States**.

*We are pleased to offer professional archival framing options upon request.*

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

Provenance

Purchased directly from the publisher upon release in 2009. 

From an influential, private collection. USA. 

INCLUDED WITH THE WORK WILL BE A COA FROM APC ART (WITH THE GALLERY’S BLIND STAMP), GUARANTEEING AUTHENTICITY IN PERPETUITY. 

Condition

The work is in mint condition. The work has always been stored flat, to archival standard.  FROM THE PRIVATE COLLECTION OF APC.