One of New Castles two LOVE sculptures, this one located in the Henry County Arts Park. Image from Art Association of Henry County
INDIANAPOLIS — Fifty years ago, New Castle son Robert Indiana turned four simple letters into a physical representation of love itself.
The iconic steel “LOVE” sculpture – with its slanted “O” —still stands at Newfields, home of the Indianapolis Museum of Art (IMA). This was the first LOVE sculpture and remains the largest to date.
New Castle is home to two LOVE reproductions: one at the Henry County Arts Park and one in the Murphey Art Park at the intersection of Grand Avenue and South 15th Street.
Newfields has been celebrating “50 Years of LOVE” this year, gathering personal stories and photos of people with the artwork.
Indiana’s LOVE began as a 1965 Christmas card to New York City’s Museum of Modern Art in 1965. He painted the now-famous red-blue-and-green version in 1966.
Four years later, he pulled those letters off the page in the form of a 9,000-pound steel sculpture. The towering LOVE letters were part of the IMA’s inaugural 1970 exhibition, Outside Seven.
Indiana the artist then took his LOVE sculpture on tour around the country before returning it to Indiana the state in 1975.
The IMA officially was acquired that first “LOVE” on Oct. 2, 1975. The piece was dedicated on Oct. 22 of the same year.
For half a century, the sculpture has been at the heart of the IMA’s permanent collection. It stands today prominently in the Pulliam Family Great Hall.
Dozens of LOVE reproductions can be found today throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia and South America. Some even spell “LOVE” in different languages.
A LOVE story
“With the first two letters stacked on top of the other two, it looked as if the O had been swept off its feet,” Christie’s Auction House wrote in 2020 about Indiana’s LOVE.
Michael Vetter, Associate Curator at Newfields, said the original LOVE sculpture is still a popular backdrop for engagement photos, wedding photos and family photos.
The same remains true for New Castle’s hometown LOVEs.
Newfields has a 1966 version of the LOVE painting on display with the steel sculpture.
After joining the Newfields team, Vetter marveled at the global reach of Indiana’s LOVE. Vetter is proud of the fact that people are able to learn so much of the artwork’s history at Newfields.
“The I think the more we can share that, the better,” he said.
For example, Robert Indiana was inspired to create his first LOVE drawing after reading a plaque that read “God is love.” His famous colorized version included blue “for the Hoosier sky.”
The most surprising piece of the LOVE story to some visitors may come from the work of artist Ellsworth Kelly, which is displayed alongside Indiana’s.
Vetter explained that Indiana and Kelly had a romantic relationship in the early 1960s in New York City. Kelley’s work is noted for its bright colors and is thought to have influenced the original LOVE painting.
“The work kind of started as a love story between two artists,” Vetter said. “This is another way we are emphasizing the LOVE.”
Indiana drew his first variation of LOVE – the card to the Museum of Modern Art – after his relationship with Kelly ended. Art historian Bradford R. Collins asserted the iconic slanted “O” may be a result of that breakup.
When Indiana visited the Indiana Museum of Art in 2000, he told IMA’s then-Associate Registrar Sherry D’Asto Peglow the real reason the “O” is tilted in the LOVE sculpture, but reportedly swore her to secrecy.
Peglow wrote about her experiences with the famed artist as part of Newfields’ “50 Years of Love” campaign.
50 Years of LOVE
In celebration of the magnificent work of art, Newfields launched the 50 Years of LOVE campaign at the beginning of 2025, around Valentine’s Day. Newfields invites community members to share their stories and join the art museum as it looks back on the history of LOVE.
Visitors can share their love stories, why they love Newfields, their favorite memory with the LOVE sculpture and more by using the #LOVENewfields tag on social media.
“LOVE stands as a powerful symbol of Newfields’ rich history,” said Jonathan Berger, Newfields Vice President of Marketing and External Affairs. “While the message itself is simple, the profound impact of Robert Indiana’s iconic work resonates with visitors from all walks of life, spanning generations. This campaign invites reflection and offers a warm welcome to revisit our doors, where the beauty of our collections and the strength of our community inspire new possibilities and experiences on this campus.”
© Copyright 2025, The Courier-Times, New Castle, IN.