Gauntlet Gallery — Retna Print Index
Retna X BTS Skate Deck 5
Summary
Skate Deck 5 from the exclusive Retna x Beyond The Streets collaboration (2018) is an 8.0-inch board in an edition of 250, the largest run in the five-deck series. It carries Retna's coded script onto a functional skateboard format, produced for the Beyond The Streets exhibition context.
Why It Matters
The Beyond The Streets series translated Retna's alphabet into collectible functional objects, bridging fine art and skate culture. As the highest-numbered deck at 250, this is the most accessible entry point into the set, making it a common gateway piece for new collectors of his work.
Collector Perspective
Decks are valued highest when unmounted, undeck-gripped, and in original condition. At 250 units this is the most available deck in the run, so condition and completeness drive desirability. It also functions as the anchor piece for anyone assembling the full five-deck set.
Historical Context
Beyond The Streets, the touring exhibition founded by Roger Gastman, celebrated graffiti and street art and produced artist merchandise and editions. Retna's participation placed his script alongside a canon of graffiti figures, and the deck series extended that platform into wearable, rideable form.
FAQ
What is Beyond The Streets?
A major touring exhibition of graffiti and street art founded by Roger Gastman, which produced artist editions and collaborative objects like these decks.
Which deck is this in the series?
Deck 5, the largest edition of the five at 250 boards.
Is it meant to be ridden?
It is a functional 8.0-inch skate deck, but as a collectible it holds most value unridden and in original condition.
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.