LOVE
Robert Indiana's LOVE is one of the most iconic and instantly recognizable sculptures of the 20th century, featuring the four bold letters stacked in a two by two grid with the O tilted at a jaunty angle. This large scale outdoor version is sited at the Pappajohn Sculpture Park in downtown Des Moines, Iowa, part of a celebrated collection donated to the city by collectors John and Mary Pappajohn beginning in 2009. The sculpture is rendered in vivid red and blue painted metal, commanding the surrounding green lawn and open sky. It stands among works by some of the most significant artists in contemporary art history, making the park one of the most important free public sculpture destinations in the United States.
- Medium
- Painted aluminum or steel
- Spotted At
- Public Space · Pappajohn Sculpture Park
Notes
According to the social media post (from story_louise and atlasobscura), John and Mary Pappajohn collected approximately $40 million worth of contemporary art over decades, displaying sculptures in their Des Moines yard before donating 24 works to the city's art museum in 2009. Additional works have been added since. The park is free and open 24/7 in downtown Des Moines. Artists mentioned as represented in the collection include Keith Haring, Yayoi Kusama, Louise Bourgeois, Robert Indiana, Ai Weiwei, Willem de Kooning, Jaume Plensa, Richard Serra, Anthony Caro, Deborah Butterfield, Yoshitomo Nara, Tony Smith, Barry Flanagan, Judith Shea, William Tucker, and Gary Hume. A second sculpture visible in the background of the artwork photo appears to be an ornate dark metallic form on a red stand. The document photo also shows what appears to be a Jaume Plensa letter sculpture.
Collectors of Robert Indiana
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