Robert Indiana: Sculpture 1958-2018 at Yorkshire Sculpture Park

Maja Lorkowska, Exhibitions Editor

Book now

Robert Indiana: Sculpture 1958-2018

12 March 2022-8 January 2023

Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.

© Jonty Wilde, courtesy of Yorkshire Sculpture Park, artwork: © 2022 Morgan Art Foundation Ltd./ Artists Rights Society (ARS), NY/DACS, London
Book now

This spring, Yorkshire Sculpture Park (YSP) will be home to the first major UK exhibition of work from the American artist: Robert Indiana: Sculpture 1958-2018.

This colourful display of the Pop artist’s work will take place both indoors and outside in the landscape. Presenting 56 pieces, six of which will be outdoors, the exhibition will be a complete representation of Indiana’s oeuvre and the nuanced thinking behind his practice.

A leading member of the Pop Art movement, throughout his 60-year career Indiana explored a variety of subjects, from the American dream and its more sinister aspects, to the timeless themes of love and acceptance, especially in relation to movements against racism and discrimination against LGBT+ communities.

© Jonty Wilde, courtesy of Yorkshire Sculpture Park, artwork: © 2022 Morgan Art Foundation Ltd./ Artists Rights Society (ARS), NY/DACS, London

 

While working at his studio in Coenties Slip, Indiana was part of a community of notable artists, including Ellsworth Kelly, Agnes Martin, Cy Twombly and James Rosenquist. Words are undeniably important in his work: short text, phrases and numbers are a key motif throughout the years in both the two-dimensional and sculptural works. Indiana studied typography whilst he was a student at the University of Edinburgh and creating ‘signs’ with the use of words and numbers became central to his practice.

The lawn outside the Underground Gallery will be filled with colourful, aluminium sculptures ONE Through ZERO (The Ten Numbers) (1980–2001). The numbers symbolise the stages of human life, from birth to death – Indiana was fascinated with numbers and the way in which they can transcend many languages. In his words: “Numbers fill my life, they fill my life even more than love. We are immersed in numbers from the moment we’re born.”

Robert Indiana, LOVE (Red Blue Green), 1966–1998, installation view at Yorkshire Sculpture Park, 2022. Photo: © Jonty Wilde, courtesy of Yorkshire Sculpture Park. Artwork: © 2022 Morgan Art Foundation Ltd./ Artists Rights Society (ARS), NY/DACS, London

 

Robert Indiana: Sculpture 1958-2018 will take visitors through earlier relief and collage works, incorporating found objects from the area around his studio, to larger sculptures and paintings created later on in his career. Look out for the most notable works, which include: Mississippi (1965), from the Confederacy series which spoke out against the atrocities committed against the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s and 60s; and Love Rising (The Black and White Love) which was dedicated to Dr Martin Luther King and first exhibited in the Museum of Modern Art, New York’s show In Honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Of course, you will also be able to encounter the artist’s most recognisable, iconic work LOVE (Red Blue Green) (1966–1998) and admire it against the backdrop of woodland and green hills of the park.

Where to go near Robert Indiana: Sculpture 1958-2018 at Yorkshire Sculpture Park

Newmillerdam Country Park
Wakefield
Park
Newmillerdam Country Park

With a central lake and woodland, Newmillerdam Country Park is a haven for wildlife – a welcoming expanse of greenery just outside Wakefield.

Ossett Brewery Taproom
Wakefield
Bar or Pub
Ossett Brewery Taproom

With outdoor seating just 30 minutes drive outside Wakefield, Ossett Brewery specialises in award-winning real ales and has taproom and brewery tours on site.

A Touch of Craft Yorkshire

A Touch of Craft is a fresh, clean and vibrant space to learn new skills, meet new people and have some YOU time! ​
We only started in December 2021 but since then we have had sell out class after sell out class!

Cannon Hall Museum Park & Gardens, Barnsley
Barnsley
Museum
Cannon Hall Museum Park & Gardens

Cannon Hall is a stunning Georgian country house museum with outstanding fine and decorative art collections, set in 70 acres of historic parkland and beautiful landscape gardens. It is the perfect day out for all the family.

Event venue
Cannon Hall Farm

Cannon Hall Farm opened to the public for the first time in 1989. Since that time we have added adventure playgrounds, gift shop, farm shop, two restaurants and an indoor playground.

7A Wakefield Richard Wheater, Neon Workshops (c) Nicholas Singleton
Event venue
7A Wakefield

Wakefield’s 7A is a flexible performance / exhibition space Yorkshire. It is host to a number of impressive events used by Leeds College of Music, Wakefield College and the Neon Workshops.

Sandal Castle
Wakefield
Tourist Attraction
Sandal Castle

The romantic ruins of this medieval castle stand in a commanding position overlooking the Yorkshire countryside.

Holmfield Arms
Wakefield
Hotel
Holmfield Arms

A popular lodge-style hotel set in picturesque parkland with its own restaurant, close to Wakefield city centre.

Neon Workshops
Wakefield
Neon Workshops

One of Wakefield’s coolest companies, book a workshop, visit a temporary exhibition or browse Neon Workshops’ online shop.

Wakefield
Event venue
Venue 23

Venue 23 is an independently run live music venue in Wakefield, which plays host to both local and international talent.

What's on: Exhibitions

The Same Deep Water as You at PINK
ExhibitionsStockport
The Same Deep Water as You at PINK

Get involved in this artistic and ambitious takeover of PINK’s three-storey venue, weaving together live performance, video, sculpture and sound.

Free entry
Wolf in Yellowstone
Until
ExhibitionsManchester
Wild at Manchester Museum

Manchester Museum explores the concept of ‘wild’ nature as a means of tackling the climate and biodiversity crisis in a new exhibition.

Free entry

Culture Guides

Isabel Galleymore in conversation
Literature Events in the North

There's a lot of experimentation going on in our Literature guide, from poets playing with form to short story writers looking long.

Three men sit next to each other. One's head is bandaged, one holds a torch and one wears a sleepmask.
Cinema in the North

Live scores, midnight movies and the latest from Wes Anderson are just some of our upcoming film highlights.

Theatre in Manchester and the North
Theatre in the North

Eclectic as ever. You'll find inventive reworkings, world-class contemporary dance and Greater Manchester's inaugural Improv Festival in our guide.

Music in the North

Gigs are coming in hot this spring – from long-awaited returns to one-off happenings you’ll blink and miss if you're not careful.

Experience a unique deep listening art installation inviting audiences to lay down and be bathed in sound and light.
Exhibitions in the North

From city-wide art festivals to open-air sculptural installations, we have exhibitions from all around the North, both indoors and out.