Contemporary art embraces a wide spectrum of styles and mediums, and few are more evocative—or controversial—than the emergence of street art. Defined by its urban roots, street art includes graffiti, murals, stencils, paste-ups, and installations often created in public spaces without formal permission. More than mere decoration, it is a bold act of visual storytelling and a means of reclaiming space, giving voice to the marginalized, and confronting the public with beauty, protest, or provocation.

In this dynamic genre, few figures stand as tall or as symbolically profound as RETNA. Born Marquis Lewis, RETNA has transformed urban walls into monumental canvases layered with a language all his own. His signature script—a stylized fusion of hieroglyphics, calligraphy, and typography—has become a visual code that bridges cultures, time periods, and spiritual philosophies. At a time when street art is both protest and poetry, RETNA reminds us that script is not just style—it’s statement.

The Emergence of a Visual Language

RETNA first rose to prominence in the early 2000s as part of Los Angeles’s thriving graffiti culture. But unlike many of his peers, RETNA rejected the brashness of traditional tagging and embraced a more intricate, almost sacred form of mark-making. His script blends influences from Arabic, Hebrew, Egyptian hieroglyphs, Gothic lettering, and Asian calligraphy into a hybrid visual language that is at once mysterious and meditative.

This blend is not coincidental. In interviews, RETNA has spoken about the power of language as a visual tool, one that carries spiritual and historical weight. His text isn’t always meant to be read literally. Instead, it invites the viewer into a deeper contemplation, a kind of urban transcendence. Each piece is an act of visual devotion, rooted in a desire to create timeless, reverent works in an often impermanent setting.

Symbolism Over Literalism

In RETNA’s world, symbolism eclipses legibility. The power of his script lies in its ability to suggest meaning without declaring it outright. This deliberate ambiguity transforms street corners into sanctuaries, alleys into altars. Whether painted on abandoned warehouses, churches, or luxury boutiques—or featured in prestigious gallery exhibitions—his work commands reverence.

This symbolic weight is evident in collaborations with brands like Louis Vuitton and clients like Madonna, who commissioned RETNA for album artwork and stage design. These partnerships didn’t dilute his message; they expanded it, introducing mainstream audiences to the idea that graffiti could be sacred, that street art could be scripture.

A Global Context: RETNA and His Contemporaries

RETNA is not alone in his approach to text and meaning. Artists like Cryptik, Chaz Bojórquez, El Seed, and Banksy have also carved global reputations by using language and symbolism in compelling, thought-provoking ways.

Cryptik, like RETNA, employs sacred and philosophical script, often drawing from Eastern spiritual traditions. His mandala-like compositions are meditative and meticulously detailed, transforming urban spaces into sacred experiences. Where RETNA’s glyphs assert energy and power, Cryptik’s often aim to induce introspection.

Chaz Bojórquez, widely regarded as one of the fathers of West Coast graffiti, pioneered the use of Cholo-style script and brought calligraphy into the street art canon decades before it gained mainstream traction. Chaz’s work centers heavily on identity and cultural pride, echoing RETNA’s own themes of heritage and spiritual symbolism.

El Seed, the French-Tunisian artist known for “calligraffiti,” fuses Arabic script with street art, creating lyrical, swirling compositions that often convey messages of peace and unity. Like RETNA, El Seed sees language as a bridge, not a barrier—employing form and fluidity over direct translation.

In contrast, Banksy leans on literalism and satire. His works are designed to be read and immediately understood, often functioning as political statements or social critiques. While Banksy’s power lies in sharp commentary, RETNA’s influence is more atmospheric—he invites meditation, not mockery; reverence, not ridicule.

Why Script Matters

In an age of instant messages, disappearing content, and AI-generated everything, RETNA’s art demands time. It asks viewers to slow down, absorb, interpret. Script, for him, is not decoration but declaration—an echo of ancient traditions reborn on concrete and canvas. His work offers a counterpoint to the fleetingness of digital culture, reminding us that symbols, when wielded with intent, can still provoke, unify, and endure.

As Mash Gallery continues to support artists who push the boundaries of material, meaning, and message, RETNA’s legacy serves as both inspiration and challenge: to create boldly, symbolically, and with unrelenting soul.