LOVE Sculpture
LOVE Sculpture
| Type | Public sculpture |
|---|---|
| Address | JFK Plaza (15th Street and JFK Boulevard) |
| Map | View on Google Maps |
| Neighborhood | Center City |
| Website | Official site |
| Established | 1976 |
| Hours | Always accessible |
The LOVE sculpture is an iconic pop art sculpture by Robert Indiana located in JFK Plaza (also called LOVE Park) in Center City, Philadelphia. The red, blue, and green sculpture has become one of the city's most recognizable landmarks and a popular photo destination.[1]
The Sculpture
Design
Robert Indiana's LOVE design features:
- Four letters stacked in a square (LO over VE)
- The "O" tilted at an angle
- Cor-Ten steel construction
- Red letters with blue and green interior
- 12 feet high, 12 feet wide
The Artist
Robert Indiana (1928-2018) created the LOVE image in 1964:
- Originally designed for a Christmas card
- First sculpture version: 1970
- Philadelphia version installed: 1976 (for Bicentennial)
- Became his signature work
- LOVE images now worldwide
History
Original Installation
The sculpture arrived in Philadelphia for the 1976 Bicentennial:
- Intended as a temporary loan
- City purchased it in 1978 ($35,000)
- JFK Plaza renamed "LOVE Park" colloquially
- Became inseparable from city identity
The Park
JFK Plaza / LOVE Park underwent major changes:
- Original park designed by Edmund Bacon (1965)
- Famous for skateboarding community
- Park redesigned 2014-2018
- Sculpture temporarily relocated during construction
- Returned to redesigned park
Skateboarding History
LOVE Park was internationally famous for skateboarding:
- Granite ledges and open plazas attracted skaters
- Featured in skate videos worldwide
- City banned skating (2002)
- Skating subculture part of park's legacy
- New design is less skate-friendly
Visiting
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | JFK Plaza, 15th St & JFK Blvd |
| Access | Always open, free |
| Photo op | Popular spot; may need to wait |
| Time needed | 10-15 minutes |
Tips
- Morning light is best for photos
- Weekday mornings less crowded
- Combine with nearby City Hall tour
- Part of the Parkway museum district
Other LOVE Sculptures
Robert Indiana created many LOVE sculptures worldwide:
- New York City (Sixth Avenue)
- Tokyo, Japan
- Taipei, Taiwan
- Many other cities
- Philadelphia's was among the earliest
Getting There
- SEPTA Subway — 15th Street Station (Market-Frankford or Broad Street Lines)
- Walking — Adjacent to City Hall
- Location — 15th Street between JFK Blvd and Arch Street
- Parking — Nearby garages