What does Justin Bieber's torso have in common with the Kennedy Center's Hall of Nations?

Bieber's abs and the Kennedy Center have both played host to artwork by graffiti artist Retna.

Last week, the graffiti artist known as Retna wrote this John F. Kennedy quote across 10 billboard-size canvases in the Kennedy Center's Hall of Nations: "Art is the great democrat calling forth creative genius from every sector of society, disregarding race or religion or wealth or color."

At least that's what Retna says he wrote — you'd be hard-pressed to glean Kennedy's words from all the red, gold and blue hieroglyphics.

Retna's free Kennedy Center exhibit runs through Sept. 24. (Scott Suchman for WNO)

"This panel says 'disregarding.' See the 'D'?" Retna asks while pointing at a series of lines that look nothing like a D. "It's lowercase," he adds.

Retna's unique vision can be seen in these panels and other pieces on display at the Kennedy Center through Sept. 24. Born Marquis Duriel Lewis in 1979, Retna spent much of the 1990s painting on buildings and billboards in Los Angeles (generally without the permission of the owners).

These days, you can see his work in galleries, on designer clothes and scrawled across the well-defined abs of Justin Bieber, who sported a painted Retna glyph on his torso for the cover of his 2015 album, "Purpose."

Retna's glyphs can seen in the sets and costumes of WNO's new production of 'Aida.'

You can also spot Retna's glyphs on the backdrops, costumes and props in a new Washington National Opera production of "Aida," which runs at the Kennedy Center Sept. 9-23.

If you go to see this version of Verdi's classic opera, don't try too hard to find the secret messages in Retna's artwork.

"I can't even read it sometimes," he says.

Kennedy Center, 2700 F St. NW; through Sept. 24, free.

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