This triptych is formed by three skate decks made of 7 ply grade A Canadian maple wood.
© Morgan Art Foundation, LLC. Licensed by Artestar, New York.
Great American Love (1972), one of Robert Indiana's most monumental paintings within his iconic ;LOVE series, was created at a pivotal moment in his career. For context: in 1973, the U.S. Postal Service issued 425 million stamps featuring the LOVE image, instantly transforming it into a national icon, though Indiana didn't yet fully control its reproduction rights.
This is precisely when Indiana produced Great American Love: four large-format panels, each bearing a letter (L-O-V-E), painted in the colors of the American flag: vibrant red, pure white, and deep navy blue. The signature "O" tilted at 45° remains the hallmark of his visual language.
The work functions as a patriotic reclamation: Indiana asserts ownership of his American creation just as the nation turns it into an official emblem. It embodies that contradictory love for the United States, admiration allied with questioning, that defines his deepest vision. No coincidence that its counterpart, Die Deutsche Liebe, exists with German flag colors.
In the art market, it belongs to the exclusive group of "national" LOVE works, very limited in number, and represents the pinnacle of Indiana's critical Pop. Original editions fetch millions at auction, serving as benchmark pieces for collectors seeking the intersection of popular iconography and social commentary.
