IMA Mourns Death Of Hoosier Artist Robert Indiana, Known For 'LOVE' Sculpture

Indianapolis Museum of Art officials say they're mourning the loss of an Indiana artist after he died at the age of 89.

Artist Robert Indiana is best known for his iconic "LOVE" sculpture. He died Saturday at his secluded island home off the coast of Maine, but he's originally from Indiana.

Newfields IMA Chief Operating Officer Kathryn Haigh says while the piece is well-known around the globe, the original sculpture has been at the IMA since 1975.

"I don't think that people know that this is the original," she says. "So this is much larger in scale. It's a different material than all the others, so that's what makes it unique for Indiana and I think that's why it's here."

The 12 foot tall sculpture is made of corten steel and can be seen in the IMA's Pulliam Family Great Hall.

But Haigh says it previously sat outside.

"We have now gone through several major restorations of this work and the last time we examined it, we decided to bring it inside," she says.

Haigh says a conservationist eventually recommended moving the sculpture indoors because of deterioration.

Indiana's attorney says Indiana died from respiratory failure.

Friends had expressed concern for his well-being because the reclusive artist had not been heard from for some time. A lawsuit filed in New York City the day before his death suggested he was purposefully isolated by his caretakers.