Gauntlet Gallery — Retna Print Index
Retna X BTS Skate Deck 4
Summary
Skate Deck 4 from the Retna x Beyond The Streets series (2018) is an 8.0-inch board in an edition of 100. It sits in the middle of the five-deck run, carrying Retna's script onto a functional skateboard produced for the Beyond The Streets exhibition.
Why It Matters
At 100 units, Deck 4 is meaningfully scarcer than the 250-run Deck 5, giving it a stronger position for collectors pursuing the set. The graduated edition sizes across the five decks create a built-in scarcity hierarchy that rewards assembling the complete run.
Collector Perspective
With half the availability of the largest deck, this occupies a mid-scarcity tier. Original, unmounted condition is paramount. Its edition of 100 makes it a step up in desirability for collectors working toward the full five-deck set, where the lowest-numbered decks are hardest to secure.
Historical Context
The Beyond The Streets platform, founded by Roger Gastman, showcased graffiti and street art history. Retna's coded alphabet, rooted in blackletter, Arabic, and Egyptian sources, appears here in a skate-culture object that ties his fine-art practice back to his graffiti origins.
FAQ
How does Deck 4 compare to Deck 5?
Deck 4 is limited to 100 boards versus Deck 5's 250, making it notably scarcer within the series.
What is the board size?
It is a functional 8.0-inch skate deck.
Does it belong to a set?
Yes, it is one of five decks in the Retna x Beyond The Streets series, each with a different edition size.
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.