The “LOVE” has turned to hate.
Famed ’60s pop artist Robert Indiana claims that a disgruntled ex-business partner is making threats against him using the medium he knows best — painting.
In papers filed in Manhattan federal court yesterday, Indiana — renowned for his “LOVE” logo, which was made into iconic street sculptures and put on postage stamps — says former partner and fellow painter John Gilbert has created artwork featuring hidden, menacing messages toward him.
One of Gilbert’s works, touted on his Web site, is “a painting entitled ‘Love #5,’ which includes text stating, ‘If anyone tries to take the LOVE [written in the same form as Mr. Indiana’s iconic painting] away from me, I will kill them,’ ” the court filing says.
Another painting by Gilbert, called “Bob #2,” “includes text stating, ‘He assigned his rights, and my contract pre-dates that assignment,’ ” the suit states.
“To confirm that these messages were directed to Mr. Indiana, Mr. Gilbert e-mailed Mr. Indiana’s assistant and specifically called her attention to http://www.johngilbertart.com,” according to the filing.
The pair has been embroiled in a legal battle over Gilbert’s claims that Indiana signed a contract with him in 2007 that allowed Gilbert to peddle the LOVE logo using the word “prem” — Sanskrit for “love” — on tapestries and sculptures.
Gilbert said that he paid Indiana $50,000 up front and another $50,000 later in royalties as part of the deal but that Indiana later reneged on their agreement.
Indiana, 81, insists there was never any deal.
He claims in his latest legal salvo that Gilbert “sufficiently disseminated his false statements to the relevant purchasing public through his Web site and continues to disseminate those false statements.”
Gilbert’s lawyer didn’t respond to requests for comment.
Indiana’s real last name is Clark; he was born in Newcastle, Ind.
He painted “LOVE” for a Christmas card for the Museum of Modern Art in New York in 1965.