Philadelphia LOVE Sign

About the LOVE Sign

Philadelphia's famous LOVE sculpture has become an enduring symbol of the City of Brotherly Love. This iconic public art installation, featuring the word LOVE in bold red letters with a tilted 'O', represents the city's spirit of affection and unity, making it one of the most recognizable landmarks in Philadelphia.

Robert Indiana's aluminum LOVE sculpture arrived in Philadelphia in 1976, lent to the city for the United States Bicentennial and set in John F. Kennedy Plaza near City Hall. When the loan lapsed in April 1978 and city officials declined the asking price, Indiana's New York dealer trucked the work away; public complaints followed, and Fitz Eugene Dixon Jr., then chairman of the Philadelphia Art Commission, bought it for $35,000 and gave it to the city, which reinstalled it that May. The plaza's nickname, LOVE Park, was made official in 2016, and the sculpture was restored and returned in February 2018, repainted purple after records showed that was its original color. It now functions as a gathering and photograph spot, especially for engagements and weddings.