new works by RETNA presented by New Image Art OPENING RECEPTION SATURDAY MARCH 20 7 TO 10PM
Retna was born in Los Angeles, California in 1979. Since first creating a name for himself in the early 1990s, Retna has become an "eternal broadcaster" of sorts, shining a light to the kinetic urban soul of Los Angeles. The name RETNA itself evokes the timeless power, movement and visual vibrancy behind the artist's acclaimed work. His work merges photography with graffiti style and paint, time with color, couture with street culture, the spiritual with the sensual, and fluidity with grit. Whether his paintings hang in a gallery or wall on the streets of Los Angeles, they serve as a retina through which we view the urban journal of contemporary art.
At an early age, Retna was introduced to L.A.'s mural culture. While still in high school, he led one of the largest and most innovative graffiti art collectives the city has witnessed. He is perhaps best known for appropriating fashion advertisements and amplifying them with his unique layering, intricate line work, text-based style and incandescent color palette reflecting an eclectic artistic tradition. RETNA became just as notorious for his ornate painting technique as his timeless style: he used paintbrushes mixed with the traditional spray can. Many of his pieces synthesize the line between fine art and graffiti, between power and opposition, between tradition and advancement.
Today, Retna traverses between the galleries and streets with ease. Retna is a member of the Art Work Rebels and Mad Society Kings Art Groups. In December 2007, he contributed to a large-scale mural project with El Mac and Reyes called "La Reina del Sur" at Miami's Primary Flight during Art Basel. His most recent projects include an exhibition titled "Vagos Y Reinas" at Robert Berman Gallery and a mural called "Seeing Signs" at the Margulies Warehouse for Primary Flight.
2K By Gingham, the artist-based t-shirt company now entering its 12th year, which represents over 100 artists' designs globally, will kick off their highly anticipated, inaugural exhibition featuring original artwork by 40 of its artist collaborators.
The 2K t-shirt line, which began in Japan, was sparked by a passion for art and a mission to bring the arts to a larger audience. An initial journey to the US to seek out original artistic images was met with frustration as the majority of t-shirt prints failed to move beyond highly recognizable, mainstream artists. This experience launched the quest to bring a broader scope of artists into the public eye, thus establishing the roots of the 2K artist t-shirt editions.
Together with New Image Art gallery in Los Angeles, 2K By Gingham will showcase the work of 40 artists from the t-shirt line for their premiere US Exhibition and Pop-Up Shop. Included will be well-known artists such as Milton Glaser, Janette Beckman, Deanne Cheuk, and David Shrigley in addition to many talented, up-and-coming artists in the spirit of 2K By Gingham.
The Pop-up shop will contain collections from past seasons as well as the new Woman’s Line, which debuts this spring, and other exciting paraphernalia from the artists.
Please join us for an evening of art, celebration, and 2K By Gingham t-shirt shopping. For the first two hours of the evening, Mezcal and Tequila tasting will be available, courtesy of Metl Reserva Especial. Throughout the night, drinks will be provided by Primo Beer, Hawai’i’s original beer. Dublub.com’s Hoseh and DJ Nobody will generously supply the evening’s music.
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