Gauntlet Gallery — Retna Print Index
Retna X BTS Skate Deck - Full Set
Summary
The Retna x Beyond The Streets Full Set (2018) gathers all five decks from the collaboration in one lot. Because the decks were issued in descending editions of 250, 100, 75, 50, and 25, a complete matched set is inherently limited by its rarest board and displays as a unified 80 x 100 cm arrangement.
Why It Matters
Owning the complete set resolves the series' scarcity puzzle in a single acquisition. Since the five decks span editions from 250 down to 25, assembling them individually is difficult; the full set delivers the entire coded-script narrative across all five boards as intended.
Collector Perspective
A full set is worth more than the sum of its parts because the 25-run Deck 1 caps how many complete sets can ever exist. Collectors should confirm all five decks are present, authentic, and in matched original condition. It is the definitive display piece for this collaboration.
Historical Context
The Beyond The Streets exhibition, founded by Roger Gastman, produced the five-deck series as a graduated edition. Presented together, the decks show the full sweep of Retna's alphabet across a functional object series and stand as a complete artifact of his street-to-gallery crossover.
FAQ
What does the full set include?
All five decks from the Retna x Beyond The Streets collaboration, each 8.0 inches, displayed together.
Why is a complete set scarce?
The rarest deck (Deck 1) has only 25 examples, so no more than 25 complete matched sets can theoretically exist.
How is it displayed?
The five decks form a unified arrangement, catalogued here at roughly 80 x 100 cm as a group.
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.