Gauntlet Gallery — Retna Print Index
Fuel (First Edition)
Summary
Fuel, 2011, is a lithograph printed on a 40-inch six-color sheet-fed press, trimmed to 20 x 20 inches on 140# Speckletone Cover Stock in 'Starch White.' The edition of 60 was originally offered at an accessible price point, making it one of RETNA's more attainable early releases.
Why It Matters
Fuel documents RETNA working in offset lithography rather than his signature serigraphy, produced on a commercial six-color press. The square format and warm Speckletone stock give it a distinct materiality. As an affordably released edition of 60, it served as an entry point for collectors during the artist's early market surge.
Collector Perspective
The compact 20 x 20 format and edition of 60 make Fuel one of the more attainable RETNA prints to source. Its modest original release price reflects an accessible tier of his catalogue. Collectors should verify the Speckletone stock, trim dimensions, and any signature or numbering when authenticating an impression.
Historical Context
Released in 2011 during RETNA's rapid ascent, Fuel reflects a moment when the artist and his publishers were producing editions across multiple price points. The lithographic process and commercial press stock connect the work to a democratizing impulse common among street-derived artists issuing affordable prints.
FAQ
What printing process was used?
It is a lithograph produced on a 40-inch six-color sheet-fed press.
What are the dimensions?
The trim size is 20 x 20 inches, a square format.
How large is the edition?
The edition is 60.
What stock is it printed on?
140# Speckletone Cover Stock in the 'Starch White' shade.
About the Artist
RETNA (Marquis Lewis, born 1979 in Los Angeles) is an American artist known for a distinctive invented script that fuses graffiti, calligraphy, and historical alphabets including Egyptian hieroglyphs, Arabic, and blackletter. He rose from the LA street-art scene and gained wide recognition in the 2010s through gallery exhibitions and public murals. His hybrid typographic style has led to collaborations with brands and institutions, and his large-scale text-based canvases have been shown internationally. RETNA's coded lettering remains his signature, treated as a personal, largely illegible language.
Collecting Retna at Gauntlet Gallery
What should I look for when buying a RETNA print?
Look for signed and numbered screen prints from documented releases, noting the edition size, paper, and any embossed publisher marks. RETNA's dense script prints are popular, so verify that the signature and numbering match the known edition. Original paintings require thorough provenance. Gauntlet Gallery lists edition details and condition for each RETNA work offered.
How are RETNA works authenticated?
Authentication rests on the publisher's certificate of authenticity, the hand signature, and a clear ownership trail from a gallery, auction house, or the studio. Comparing the print to its published edition specifications is key. Gauntlet Gallery documents each piece with its available paperwork and provenance rather than relying on any authority the artist does not endorse.
What drives value in RETNA's work?
Unique canvases and hand-embellished works sit at the top of the market, followed by low-edition signed prints in strong condition. Value reflects scale, complexity of the script composition, exhibition history, and provenance. Well-preserved, fully documented pieces from recognized editions retain value most reliably.