Society
by Retna
Year: 2025
Medium: Ink and pencil on canvas
Size: 36 × 36 in
Rooted in Retna’s contemporary art practice, Society (2025) is an ink and pencil on canvas work measuring 36 × 36 inches. Its layered mark-making and graphic precision reflect the artist’s connection to modern urban art and calligraphic expression. The square format creates a commanding visual presence, making this original artwork an appealing choice for discerning collectors. Clear title, artist, date, medium, and dimensions support accurate cataloguing and provenance.
Society by RETNA captures the artist’s transition from Los Angeles graffiti into contemporary fine art. RETNA first developed his signature visual language on city walls, drawing from Gothic script, Arabic and Hebrew calligraphy, Egyptian hieroglyphs, and graffiti. Society is best viewed as a studio work rather than a direct street piece, where his coded alphabet becomes a refined meditation on culture, identity, community, and belonging.
The layered symbols suggest a society built from many voices. Each mark feels personal, yet the complete composition speaks to shared history and human connection. RETNA turns language into an image, giving the viewer a sense of mystery while keeping the work visually powerful.
For collectors, Society is an appealing example of RETNA’s distinctive calligraphic style and his growing importance in the contemporary art market. Works from this period are increasingly sought after for their rarity, strong visual impact, and connection to the evolution of street art.
Our curatorial view is simple: Society rewards close looking. The longer you spend with it, the more its rhythm, structure, and hidden language emerge.
The work fits RETNA’s mature calligraphic period and relates to his Society-themed works and broader Margraves series. It represents the point where graffiti, calligraphy, and fine art meet.
More Retna Works to Explore
Society
by Retna
Year: 2025
Medium: Ink and pencil on canvas
Size: 36 × 36 in
Rooted in Retna’s contemporary art practice, Society (2025) is an ink and pencil on canvas work measuring 36 × 36 inches. Its layered mark-making and graphic precision reflect the artist’s connection to modern urban art and calligraphic expression. The square format creates a commanding visual presence, making this original artwork an appealing choice for discerning collectors. Clear title, artist, date, medium, and dimensions support accurate cataloguing and provenance.
Society by RETNA captures the artist’s transition from Los Angeles graffiti into contemporary fine art. RETNA first developed his signature visual language on city walls, drawing from Gothic script, Arabic and Hebrew calligraphy, Egyptian hieroglyphs, and graffiti. Society is best viewed as a studio work rather than a direct street piece, where his coded alphabet becomes a refined meditation on culture, identity, community, and belonging.
The layered symbols suggest a society built from many voices. Each mark feels personal, yet the complete composition speaks to shared history and human connection. RETNA turns language into an image, giving the viewer a sense of mystery while keeping the work visually powerful.
For collectors, Society is an appealing example of RETNA’s distinctive calligraphic style and his growing importance in the contemporary art market. Works from this period are increasingly sought after for their rarity, strong visual impact, and connection to the evolution of street art.
Our curatorial view is simple: Society rewards close looking. The longer you spend with it, the more its rhythm, structure, and hidden language emerge.
The work fits RETNA’s mature calligraphic period and relates to his Society-themed works and broader Margraves series. It represents the point where graffiti, calligraphy, and fine art meet.