Retna, born Marquis Lewis in 1979, is an American street artist renowned for his unique, complex calligraphy-inspired style. Merging elements of Blackletter, Egyptian hieroglyphics, Arabic, and Hebrew scripts, Retna has created a distinctive, visually striking language in his art. His most recognized works often comprise large-scale murals, like those found on the streets of Los Angeles and Miami. Retna's auction record was set by the piece "El Salsero," a canvas dominated by his stylized script, which fetched $350,000 in 2020. Despite gaining commercial recognition, Retna maintains a significant presence in the street art community.