Robert Indiana

1928-

When a mailman has a letter for you, how does he know which house is yours?

If your backpack gets lost, what shows that it belongs to you?

How does your best friend call you?

How do you know when its safe to cross on a busy street?

Street signs, house numbers, phone numbers we use everyday.

Words and numbers are important to Robert Indiana.

He has turned them into a

language of his own.

Robert Indiana was born in Indiana.

His last name was Clark, but he changed it to show how important words are to him.

He uses them to tell you what he’s seen, what he’s done, and what he thinks.

His art looks like road signs you

might see along the highway.

Sometimes they show what roads he’s traveled and what’s happened along the way.

He remembers neon signs and

games from roadside

restaurants where his mother worked.

He puts their shapes and colors

into his art.

Sometimes they encourage us to do

what he thinks we should – like “EAT”

and “LOVE”.

Robert Indiana found some old number stencils when he moved his studio into an

old warehouse.

The stencils inspired him to use words and numbers in his paintings.

“Some people like to paint trees, I like to paint love. I find it more meaningful than painting trees.”

In 1973, the US Postal service

put Robert Indiana’s design on the very first “LOVE” stamp.

Over 323 million of these stamps

were printed.

Every time a letter with this stamp on it was delivered, Robert Indiana’s message of “LOVE” was being spread a little further.

Robert is probably most famous for his “LOVE” artwork.

Sculptural versions of the image

have been installed

across America.

They can be found in places like

Philadelphia,

Love Sculpture in NYC

New York,

Arizona,

And even in Israel! This says “LOVE” in Hebrew.

In 2008, Indiana created an image similar to his LOVE, but this time showcasing

the word "HOPE." 

The artist created a public art installation that spells HOPE

in celebration of Barack Obama’s message of hope.

Robert Indiana raised more than $1 million for the Obama campaign by creating HOPE prints, posters, T-shirts and other memorabilia.

He calls “HOPE”, "LOVE”s closest relative".

                                                         

                                                      

                                                         

                                                                                                              

Robert Indiana Now and Then

Hope and Love