Retna (American, b.1979)

LOT ID: 67546

Rebecca, ie. circa 2007

Mixed Media, Paint on Advertisement Poster

70.1 х 48 in. (178.05 x 121.92 cm.)

Other, Retna's trademark lettering.

Lot description

'Rebecca' is from the "Bus Poster" series circa 2007, which marks a perfect example of Retna's earlier work and calligraphic lettering, and like all good street art, began with petty theft. At some point in 2007 and presumably while waiting for a bus, Retna took a liking to the bus stop advertisements for a woman's clothing company called Bebe. There was something about the elegant forms of the models, or maybe the ideal "canvas-like" dimensions of the posters, but mostly the opportunity for a good bit of Ad Destruction. In turn, Retna began stealing numerous posters for the basis of his definitive compositions. This particular ad was originally of model Rebecca Romijn from her Bebe campaign which hit the streets of Los Angeles in the Spring of 2007, and was presumably “appropriated” shortly thereafter. Somewhere around 2008 it resurfaced from Retna's downtown studio in all of its current glory and was acquired by the current owner.

Contemporary graffiti artist Retna (b. 1979) was introduced to the L.A. mural scene at an early age, leading one of the largest graffiti art collectives in the city since high school. Through the appropriation of fashion advertisements, Retna reinvents them with intricate line work, complex layering, a powerful range of color, and a completely unique calligraphic lettering style. Fusing elements of fine art and graffiti into his multifarious compositions, Retna combines visual linguistics, urban poetics, and a timeless power unique to his specific approach, exploring an eclectic range of mediums including graffiti, photography, and painting. The artist has exhibited at venues throughout the world, with shows at L.A. Art Machine (Los Angeles, CA), The Don Gallery (Milan, Italy), Yves Laroche Galerie d’Art (Montreal, Canada), and Art for All (Malaga, Spain), among numerous others.

Literature and Catalogue Raisoneé
Literature and Catalogue Raisoneé
Condition Report
Condition Report

The seller has recorded the following condition for this lot:

Description:	Tears / Holes
Date
Date	Unavailable – contact Specialist for details
Location:	Upper left, Lower left, Other location
Location:
Area:	Other area
Degree:	Moderate
Notes:	- Small tear upper left by artist at time of painting (PICTURE 10) - Small tear middle left repaired and painted over by artist (PICTURE 9) - Small clean tear to lower middle, not by artist, easily fixable (PICTURE 11)


Date
Date
Location:
Location:
Area:
Degree:
Notes:
Further information details

Definition Key

History and Provenance
History and Provenance
Provenance:
Acquired directly from the artist, certificate of authenticity from the artist available by request.
Shipping Information
Shipping Information
Shipping Carrier:
FedEx, UPS, DHL, Pick-up,

Shipping Weight: 35 lbs

Framing: Yes (0 x 0 inches)

Item Location: California, USA

Shipping Options:
Artwork will ship when payment clears. Packing, shipping, and insurance costs are the responsibility of the buyer.
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Contact the Specialist

Max Wolf

Senior Specialist, Contemporary Art, Post-War Contemporary

New York

(212) 497-9700 399

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Lot ID

67546

Artist

Retna

Title

Rebecca

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Margin Area	Edge, border, or perimeter areas
Image Area	Central image, focal point of the item/image.

Minor	Existing condition generally does not involve risk of loss
Moderate	Noticeable, increasing in severity and/or size; not serious, but should be monitored or corrected by a conservator
Major	Distinct, recognizable damage; stability of the work is questionable; risk is a factor; requires the attention of a conservator
Extreme	Advanced and severe damage; work is insecure and at great risk

Retna (American, b.1979) LOT ID: 67546 Rebecca, ie. circa 2007

CONFIRMATION

Max Wolf

Retna (American, b.1979)

LOT ID: 67546

Rebecca, ie. circa 2007