Gauntlet Gallery — Retna Print Index
When Judgement Ends
Summary
When Judgement Ends, 2011, is a silkscreen hand-embellished with diamond dust, gunpowder, and gold Chanel stickers, measuring 59 x 43 inches in an edition of 13. Each example is signed by RETNA alongside collaborators Candie Weitz and Allison Cane, making it a multi-hand collaborative object.
Why It Matters
The unconventional materials — diamond dust, gunpowder, and applied Chanel stickers — push this well beyond standard serigraphy into mixed-media territory. An edition of 13 and three signatures signal a genuine collaboration rather than a solo print. It stands among RETNA's most materially adventurous published works.
Collector Perspective
Scarcity, large scale, and hand embellishment with luxury and unexpected materials make this a distinctive collector's piece. The diamond dust and gunpowder surfaces require careful handling and stable display conditions. Confirm all three signatures — RETNA, Candie Weitz, and Allison Cane — and inspect embellishment stability before acquiring.
Historical Context
Created in 2011, When Judgement Ends reflects RETNA's collaborative ethos and his willingness to incorporate provocative materials that reference luxury, violence, and permanence. The blend of Chanel branding with gunpowder situates the work within a pop-culture-meets-street-art dialogue characteristic of the period.
FAQ
What materials embellish this print?
It is hand-finished with diamond dust, gunpowder, and gold Chanel stickers over a silkscreen base.
Who signed it?
It is signed by RETNA, Candie Weitz, and Allison Cane.
How many were produced?
The edition is 13.
How large is it?
It measures 59 x 43 inches.
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.