Gauntlet Gallery — Retna Print Index
Young Blood
Summary
Young Blood, 2012, is a screen print with enamel on paper, one of only 3 hand-painted multiples measuring 58 x 42 inches (147.3 x 106.7 cm). Each impression is signed, titled, and numbered. The addition of hand-applied enamel makes every example a distinct object rather than a uniform edition print.
Why It Matters
An edition of 3 sits at the extreme scarce end of RETNA's output, and the hand-painted enamel layer erases any two impressions being identical. The large scale lets the artist's cryptic script operate architecturally. For collectors, this is closer to a unique painting-print hybrid than a conventional serigraph.
Collector Perspective
Three examples worldwide, each individually hand-finished, make Young Blood a trophy-tier holding for a RETNA collection. The enamel medium demands careful handling and climate control. Buyers should confirm the signature, title inscription, and edition number, and inspect the enamel surface for stability and condition.
Historical Context
Produced in 2012 at the height of RETNA's institutional and market ascent, Young Blood belongs to a group of large hand-embellished works that blur the line between print and painting. This approach connects his gallery practice to the immediacy and physicality of his earlier mural and graffiti work.
FAQ
How many were made?
Only 3 hand-painted multiples exist, making it extremely limited.
Is each one identical?
No. Each is a screen print hand-finished with enamel, so every impression differs.
How large is the work?
It measures 58 x 42 inches (147.3 x 106.7 cm), a wall-scale piece.
Is it signed?
Yes, each example is signed, titled, and numbered by the artist.
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.