Robert Indiana, 89, who turned ‘Love’ Into enduring art, is dead

THE NEW YORK TIMES
By Jori Finkel
A “Love” sculpture in John F. Kennedy Plaza, commonly known as Love Park, in Philadelphia. Credit Matt Rourke/Associated Press
Robert Indiana, the Pop artist whose bold rendering of the word “love” became one of the most recognizable artworks of the 20th century, gracing hundreds of prints, paintings and sculptures, some 330 million postage stamps that he authorized and countless tchotchkes that he did not, died on Saturday at his home in Vinalhaven, Me. He was 89. His lawyer, James W. Brannan, said the cause was respiratory failure. Mr. Indiana’s famous image features the word L-O-V-E rendered in colorful capital letters, with the first two letters stacked on top of the other two, and the letter “O” tilted as if it were being swept off its feet. [More]
This time lapse video shows how Robert Indiana's 'Love' sculpture became Gary Varvel's editorial cartoon. Gary Varvel. Image courtesy of The IndyStar.com
Robert Indiana with his 'LOVE' sculpture in Central Park, New York City in 1971. Image courtesy of CNN
Mr. Indiana about five years ago. His caretaker told friends in recent years that the artist was not feeling well enough to receive visitors. Credit Dennis & Diana Griggs