Many iconic pieces make up the Martin H. Bush Outdoor Sculpture Collection. One of the most instantly recognizable sits just outside The Ulrich Museum of Art – “LOVE.”

But what makes these brightly-colored letters meaningful to Wichita State and the world? For one, “LOVE” has been a part of campus for decades. Wichita State’s LOVE sculpture was fabricated in 1980. This came 10 years after the first LOVE sculpture was created for the Indianapolis Museum of Art - located in creator Robert Indiana’s home state. Indiana created the LOVE image as a card in 1964 and it grew in popularity throughout the 1960s and 70s.

Now, there are more than 50 LOVE sculptures worldwide in a variety of languages. Wichita State boasts the only one in Kansas and the first one to feature the blue and green color combination. LOVE has also appeared on stickers in black and Shocker yellow!

For all the years “LOVE” has adorned campus, its current position outside The Ulrich is relatively new. The sculpture was located directly south of the Heskett Center and east of Lindquist Hall until 2022 when it was removed for conservation. It returned to campus in late 2024 now elevated on a metal platform to reduce damage.

“LOVE” is both an important piece of Shocker history and a point of prominence in Wichita State’s renowned outdoor sculpture collection. It is also one of the most popular photo spots on campus – a perfect place to snap a pic with friends, family and loved ones. Plus, there is a campus myth that if you take a photo with your partner in front of the sculpture you are destined to get married!