You've seen the design. Now, meet the artist: Robert Indiana. Indiana is an American pop artist best known for his serif-font LOVE print, which remains an iconic sculpture and postage stamp design.

LOVE debuted in 1970 after Indiana was commissioned by the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. LOVE with the playfully tilted O and bright color scheme is something you probably recognize, but may not have given much thought. That's often the role of art, which burrows into our subconscious and becomes a part of our aesthetic environment. We tend to lose track of the history of iconic pieces of art, but something about them remains relevant and influential.

While LOVE has religious origins and was intended as a Christmas card design, its widespread popularity has led to a vast array of interpretations that stretch beyond the religious domain. Its vagueness lends to its accessibility and applicability. It could be associated with romance & heartbreak, brotherly affection, prosocial acts & altruism, a divine calling—and these feelings and associations are often very strong. That is part of the power of LOVE.

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