Hope: A sculpture to see in New York
The Hope sculpture awaits you in the heart of New York! This artwork by Robert Indiana delivers a universal message of hope.
What to Know About the Hope Sculpture
- Hope is a striking public artwork displayed on a New York City street. This 4-meter-tall (13-foot) sculpture spells out the word Hope in large red letters. You’ll find it at the corner of 7th Avenue and 53rd Street in Midtown.
- American pop artist Robert Indiana created this work—his real name was Robert Clark. Born in Indiana in 1928 (which inspired his artist name), Indiana became a leading figure in pop art and created two iconic sculptures in New York: Love and Hope.
- While exploring Midtown, take a moment to stop by for an inspiring selfie. To learn more about Robert Indiana’s work, visit the MoMA. The Museum of Modern Art holds several of his pieces in its collection.
The Story Behind the Hope Sculpture
- Indiana created this sculpture in 2008 to send a message of hope, positivity, confidence and peace to modern society. It has stood at this outdoor location since September 2015.
- Interestingly, Robert Indiana donated all profits from reproducing the image to Barack Obama’s presidential campaign—over one million dollars. The word appeared on t-shirts, pins and stickers.
- For Indiana, Hope held special significance. In an interview with the Associated Press, he described Hope as the closest companion to his Love sculpture. Until 2019, the two sculptures stood just a few blocks apart. Since then, Love was removed for restoration and never reinstalled. With love gone, only hope remains on New York’s streets.