The Garden of Love #1 1982

Robert Indiana made this “Love” using flat planes of color blocked with crisp edges, probably with stencils and squeegees. You know, it looks like a sign, but it's not. It's a painting. I bet Indiana was thinking about the signs we see every day, and wondered how to make something both flat and deep. I mean, look at that tilted “O.” It’s as if he turned it on its side to see what would happen. The colors of green, blue, and white make me think of a garden. It’s so graphic, so bold, and, well, so lovable. I think it's fascinating how artists can use simple forms and colors to create images that stick in your mind. It reminds me of the work of other pop artists, like Andy Warhol or Roy Lichtenstein, who were also playing with everyday images and commercial techniques. There’s a real conversation going on between artists from different eras! It’s about what counts as “art,” and how we see the world around us.