October 22, 2025
An official proclamation today marks October 22, 2025 as “Indiana’s day of LOVE” by the Mayor of Indianapolis. On this day in 1975, the dedication ceremony for Robert Indiana’s LOVE was held here at Newfields, 50 years ago.
For five decades, LOVE has been the centerpiece of generations of Hoosiers’ love stories on our campus—proposals, engagement photos, family portraits, weddings, friendships, and more. Every photo in front of the sculpture becomes a symbol of a warm, happy memory that brings guests back time and time again to relive and create magical moments with friends and family... that photo makes them a part of Newfields and makes Newfields a part of them.
Since its fabrication in North Haven, Connecticut in 1970, LOVE took a quick hop up and down the East Coast, from Boston to Central Park in New York City. The sculpture also welcomed guests to the inaugural exhibition, Outside Seven, at the Indianapolis Museum of Art in 1970 before the Museum officially acquired it in 1975.
Every place LOVE visited spread hope and cheer for many. Like one young woman, Jeanette Stevens, who visited the IMA on a field trip before switching high schools during a challenging time in her life. As a seventeen-year-old, seeing the sculpture for the first time, she felt a sense of hope, and of course, love. She bought a LOVE poster from The Museum and Garden Shop as a memory, and it went with her during that difficult move from her old farm to her new town. In her own words, “…Somehow that afternoon at the museum was life changing for me… This was 1975 and I still remember that day like it was yesterday ❤️.”
Your Stories Bring LOVE to Life
We asked you to share your LOVE stories to mark this major milestone. We love reading all of them (thank you) and we’re proud to share the love with all our readers:
“My now husband and I met in early 2021. Dating during COVID definitely came with its challenges, but Newfields was always a welcoming & joy-filled retreat. So many of our dates took place there! When it came time for engagement photos, having them captured in the gardens was a must! We LOVE Newfields!” – Noelle Hand
Lindsey Sanner (left) and husband (right).
"I grew up as a kid of two art school graduates, so the IMA was an important fixture in my life, so I regularly proposed it as a date location for my now husband. One rainy and chilly September evening he wanted to go for a walk on the Newfields grounds. I dragged my feet getting ready, but he was insistent! He proposed in the Allée by the Glick Fountain, and we walked over to the LOVE statue and snapped a selfie to share with friends. (Then took actual engagement photos there). Now we love bringing the kids to visit the museum and explore the grounds.” – Lindsey Sanner
“Love and my Mom…the two words are indistinguishable to me.”- Wes Booth (photo from 1980)
“My parents have been directly involved with the LOVE sculpture for as long as I can recall. After I moved from Indiana to Colorado my daughter suggested that we get matching LOVE tattoos as my first tattoo. I couldn’t imagine a more representative tattoo to have on my body. So that’s what we did! Mine is enhanced with magnolias and my kids’ initials. I LOVE it!” – Catherine LaCrosse.
Newfields is grateful to the entire LaCrosse family for their commitment to the memory of this special sculpture. Catherine’s parents, long-time IMA supporters Patricia and James LaCrosse, sponsored several major moments in LOVE’s history, including its major conservation treatment in 2006 and subsequent indoor relocation and stabilization. The family recognizes the importance of this iconic piece to our community and has supported sharing the conservation process widely through photos, videos, and social media updates as well.
“In September 2011, after a visit to the Newfields Museum, my husband attempted to propose to me in front of the iconic Robert Indiana LOVE sculpture. However, he was so nervous he didn't pop the question until we got to the parking lot at the car. We took a photo in front of the sculpture to remember the moment. A couple of years later, after our son turned one, we returned to the same spot to take a family photo. This was an idea sparked by my husband to mark our growing family and love.
Since then, taking a photo in front of the sculpture has become a cherished tradition for our family. We’ve returned time and time again, capturing each chapter of our lives—most recently in 2025. Our tradition has even inspired friends and family, who’ve gifted us sculpture-inspired keepsakes like snow globes and Christmas ornaments. All of our LOVE photos now proudly hang in the entryway of our home, reminding us daily of the joy, memories, and meaning this artwork holds in our story.” – Sharonda Cawthon
“When we were in college (me at IU Indianapolis, hubby at University of Indianapolis), we used to visit the museum and just wander the exhibits and enjoy. Then when we got married just out of college in March of 2001, we had our reception at the museum. As the years went by, we have made dozens of visits with our kids whether to go to Cereal Cinema at The Tobias Theater or have a picnic and wander the grounds. We even took pictures in front of the LOVE statue for our Christmas cards with our kids one year and when they were little would take their picture in front of the numbers outside that corresponded with an upcoming birthday. We have visited Winterlights many times, we went to Pop Up: Pie as our last date out in the world before the shutdown during the pandemic and Newfields was one of the first places we went when the world opened back up as social distancing was easy in a museum. We've visited two of THE LUME exhibits and have taken workshops. Now our boys are grown (18 and 21) and the oldest just did an Across Indiana story on the Rococo exhibit for WFYI as their Digital Content Intern this summer which feels like a full circle moment for us and the museum. We've always loved this city and each other and Newfields has been a big part of that for us.” – Lindy Vaught
Where Will LOVE Take You?
For Glenna Miedema, LOVE sparked a lifelong travel tradition: “18 years ago, my husband and I took our two daughters to IMA and took a picture at the LOVE sculpture. That was our first family picture at a LOVE sculpture, but it hasn't been our last. We love taking family road trips all over the US and have now visited (and taken family pictures at) six of the Robert Indiana LOVE sculptures (IN, PA, MI, MN, AR & CA) and hope to keep finding more to visit in the years to come.”
There's More to LOVE
“I had just moved to Indy, and my parents came to visit.” – Adara Valdez, Newfields’ Associate Interpretation Planner
Share the LOVE
As we celebrate 50 years of LOVE and mark the anniversary of this beloved sculpture’s dedication, we want to celebrate you. We’ve created a special pop-up about the story of LOVE right by the sculpture. However, it isn’t complete without your Newfields love story.
Do you have a special memory from a visit with friends or family? Has it inspired you to create some artwork of your own? Did you also fall in love or celebrate love here?
Now through February 2026, we’re inviting you to be the heart of the art during this celebration of LOVE. Submit your story and photos today for a chance to be featured in this inspiring exhibit. Come check out this fun pop-up while it lasts and be part of the next 50 years of LOVE at Newfields.
