RETNA
“Language is architecture. I am building rooms you can read.”
Los Angeles painter whose invented script fuses hieroglyphics, blackletter, Arabic and Native American forms into a modern alphabet.
Working across contemporary practice from Los Angeles, United States RETNA is represented on Rare Form because the works we can offer meet the Rare Form Standard: a reviewed seller, disclosed documentation and condition described as recorded.
Signature pieces by RETNA
RETNA — market performance
Historical market information is provided for context and does not represent a prediction of future value.
Counted from the Rare Form catalogue. Asking prices are prices offered, not prices realised.
Median realised price, canvases.
Source: Aggregated published auction results · 12 months to June 2026 · Sample: 58 lots
Median of sold canvases. Buyer's premium included.
- Historical high at auction
- $424,000Untitled (2013), Phillips New YorkSource: Phillips published results · November 2013 · USD · Buyer's premium includedPublished price including buyer's premium.
- Auction range, canvases
- $14,000 – $92,000Source: Aggregated published auction results · January 2024 – June 2026 · USD · Sample: 58 lots · Buyer's premium includedInterquartile range of sold canvases. Bought-in lots excluded.
Last reviewed 8 August 2026.
18 works
Buying RETNA: values, editions and authentication
RETNA's invented script made him one of the most recognisable painters to come out of the Los Angeles street scene. The market is thinner than Banksy's or KAWS's, which means selection and documentation matter more and resale takes longer.
The market
Large canvases set the artist's price ceiling and attract the strongest interest; works on paper and editions provide the entry tier. Because comparable sales are less frequent, valuation depends on a smaller set of data points and negotiation range is wider than in deeper markets.
Editions and formats
Editions are generally small and hand-finished elements appear frequently, which makes each sheet slightly different. Canvases are unique. Confirm precisely what you are buying — the word 'edition' covers a wide range of production in this artist's output.
Authentication
Expect a studio or gallery certificate together with the original invoice. Given the smaller market, the strength of the paper trail has an outsized effect on resale.
Condition red flags
- Works described only as 'from the studio' with no invoice or certificate
- Surface abrasion or flaking on heavily layered paint areas
- Unclear distinction between a unique canvas and a hand-finished edition
Questions collectors ask about RETNA
- How much do RETNA works sell for?
- Works on paper and editions typically trade in the four to five figures, while large signature canvases reach well into six figures. The spread is wide because comparable sales are less frequent than for larger-market artists.
- Is RETNA a liquid market?
- Less so than Banksy, Invader or KAWS. Expect a longer placement period on resale and price with that in mind. Strong images with clean documentation move considerably faster than marginal ones.
Looking for a specific work by RETNA?
Much of what we place is never publicly listed. Share your criteria and an advisor will search privately on your behalf.
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