If you’ve ever walked into a gallery and found yourself standing in front of a towering canvas filled with symbols you can’t decipher, chances are you’ve encountered RETNA. His work is bold, mysterious, and deeply layered — a cryptic visual language that feels equal parts ancient manuscript and urban poetry. For new gallery-goers or anyone intimidated by abstract art, RETNA might seem like an artist whose work requires an MFA to appreciate. But the truth is, you don’t need an art degree to connect with his pieces. You just need to shift how you look.

Who is RETNA? From Graffiti Roots to Global Recognition

RETNA, born Marquis Lewis in Los Angeles, rose from the graffiti-covered streets of LA in the ’90s to become one of the most recognizable names in contemporary art. What started as tagging transformed into a globally recognized signature style that now appears everywhere from luxury fashion campaigns to opera stage designs. His art bridges the worlds of rebellion and refinement, drawing on graffiti culture while nodding to ancient visual traditions.

How to “Read” RETNA’s Art: Beyond Literal Meaning

First, abandon the idea of translation. RETNA’s work doesn’t follow a traditional alphabet. Instead, it’s a composite script influenced by Egyptian hieroglyphics, Hebrew and Arabic calligraphy, Asian brushwork, and Gothic blackletter, fused with the energy of street tagging. Each stroke carries emotion, rhythm, and intent — but not literal meaning. It’s less about decoding a sentence and more about absorbing the mood, movement, and emotion in front of you.

Think of his art as visual music. Just like you don’t need to understand every lyric to feel a song, you don’t need to interpret every glyph to feel a RETNA piece. His compositions often have a meditative rhythm: stacked lines, repeating patterns, carefully balanced symmetry. They evoke ancient scrolls or sacred texts, but they also channel the pulse of the streets. It’s this blend of spiritual reverence and urban grit that makes his work so emotionally charged.

Why RETNA’s Art Resonates with Today’s Generations

For Gen Z and Millennials, RETNA’s work resonates on multiple levels. In an age dominated by digital content and visual clutter, his pieces invite you to slow down and engage deeply. The handcrafted nature of his brushstrokes — layered, raw, deliberate — contrasts with the pixel-perfect imagery we scroll past daily. It feels authentic, analog, and grounded.

Moreover, RETNA’s use of global calligraphy speaks to a generation that identifies less with borders and more with shared cultural experiences. His art doesn’t belong to one culture or language — it reflects many. It embraces ambiguity, hybrid identity, and cross-cultural exchange — all values that resonate strongly with younger, more globally conscious viewers.

The Power of Mystery, Scale, and Color in RETNA’s Work

There’s also the allure of mystery. RETNA doesn’t give everything away, and that’s precisely the point. In a world that demands constant clarity, where every post is over-explained and every message decoded, RETNA’s refusal to be easily understood is a quiet rebellion. It invites personal interpretation, creating space for the viewer to find their own meaning in the abstract.

And let’s not forget the sheer visual impact. RETNA’s pieces are often monumental — wall-sized works that envelop the viewer. The intensity of scale, combined with sharp contrasts, metallics, and deep blacks, creates a visceral experience. Whether you’re looking at a painting, a mural, or even one of his collaborations with brands like Chanel or Louis Vuitton, the energy is unmistakable.

Color plays an important role too. While RETNA often works in black and white, he uses color purposefully — not just decoratively. Gold might represent spiritual weight; red, urgency or rage; blue, calm and depth. These choices layer additional emotional cues onto already complex compositions, offering yet another entry point for the viewer.

Ultimately, connecting with RETNA’s work isn’t about intellectual deconstruction. It’s about emotional reception. If a piece makes you feel awe, tension, stillness, or fire, then it’s working. RETNA gives you permission to feel first and analyze second — a refreshing approach especially for those new to contemporary

Who is RETNA and what is his artistic background?

RETNA is Marquis Lewis, a Los Angeles-born artist who started as a graffiti tagger in the ’90s and evolved into a globally recognized contemporary artist known for his unique script-style work.

How do you interpret RETNA’s artwork without an art degree?

Instead of trying to decode literal meaning, focus on the emotional impact, rhythm, and movement in the artwork. It’s about feeling the piece rather than reading it like a text.

What influences shape RETNA’s signature script?

RETNA’s style blends elements from Egyptian hieroglyphics, Hebrew and Arabic calligraphy, Asian brushwork, Gothic blackletter, and street tagging culture.

Why does RETNA’s art appeal to younger generations like Gen Z and Millennials?

His art embraces cross-cultural influences, ambiguity, and hybrid identities, resonating with global and digitally native generations who value shared experiences beyond borders.

What role do color and scale play in RETNA’s artworks?

Colors are chosen purposefully to convey emotion (e.g., gold for spirituality, red for urgency), and large-scale pieces create an immersive, visceral experience for viewers.