Malibu Series #4
by Retna
Year: 2025
Medium: Watercolors on arches paper
Size: 30 × 23 in
Delicate in scale yet rich in character, Retna’s Malibu Series #4 (2025) brings his coded calligraphic language to watercolor on Arches paper, measuring 30 × 23 inches. Reflecting his Los Angeles street-art roots, the work translates urban visual culture into a refined contemporary study. Its fluid execution, archival paper, and documented 2025 provenance make this a distinctive opportunity for collectors of Retna’s evolving practice.
Malibu Series #4 by RETNA is a 2025 watercolor on Arches paper, measuring 40 × 26 inches. It belongs to a focused group of four Malibu works and is documented as a studio piece rather than a street mural. There is no documented street-graffiti version of this specific work; its intimate paper format places the emphasis on RETNA’s hand, line, and calligraphic detail.
The Malibu title brings a distinctly Southern California setting into RETNA’s visual language. His layered script draws from graffiti, calligraphy, and historic writing systems, turning text into an image. The flowing marks suggest movement, identity, memory, and the meeting of cultures.
For collectors, the appeal is its unique status, tight series structure, and connection to RETNA’s mature studio practice. The Malibu group also offers an opportunity to collect related works as a coherent set.
From a curatorial perspective, #4 stands out for the tension between delicate watercolor and RETNA’s bold, architectural lettering. It shows how an artist rooted in Los Angeles street culture can translate that language into collectible fine art.
The work fits naturally within RETNA’s 2025 period and relates directly to Malibu Series #1–3, as well as his broader calligraphic paintings and works on paper.
More Retna Works to Explore
Malibu Series #4
by Retna
Year: 2025
Medium: Watercolors on arches paper
Size: 30 × 23 in
Delicate in scale yet rich in character, Retna’s Malibu Series #4 (2025) brings his coded calligraphic language to watercolor on Arches paper, measuring 30 × 23 inches. Reflecting his Los Angeles street-art roots, the work translates urban visual culture into a refined contemporary study. Its fluid execution, archival paper, and documented 2025 provenance make this a distinctive opportunity for collectors of Retna’s evolving practice.
Malibu Series #4 by RETNA is a 2025 watercolor on Arches paper, measuring 40 × 26 inches. It belongs to a focused group of four Malibu works and is documented as a studio piece rather than a street mural. There is no documented street-graffiti version of this specific work; its intimate paper format places the emphasis on RETNA’s hand, line, and calligraphic detail.
The Malibu title brings a distinctly Southern California setting into RETNA’s visual language. His layered script draws from graffiti, calligraphy, and historic writing systems, turning text into an image. The flowing marks suggest movement, identity, memory, and the meeting of cultures.
For collectors, the appeal is its unique status, tight series structure, and connection to RETNA’s mature studio practice. The Malibu group also offers an opportunity to collect related works as a coherent set.
From a curatorial perspective, #4 stands out for the tension between delicate watercolor and RETNA’s bold, architectural lettering. It shows how an artist rooted in Los Angeles street culture can translate that language into collectible fine art.
The work fits naturally within RETNA’s 2025 period and relates directly to Malibu Series #1–3, as well as his broader calligraphic paintings and works on paper.