Four years before he created his iconic “LOVE” motif, Robert Indiana gained his first major art world recognition for his 1961 painting The American Dream I, which was acquired that same year by The Museum of Modern Art’s director Alfred Barr for the institution’s permanent collection. Adopting the style of sign painting, The American Dream I featured an array of stars, circles, numbers, and stencilled letters, which held hidden symbolism for the artist. In 1997, Indiana released “The American Dream” print portfolio, featuring limited edition versions of the series in addition to a selection of his other famous motifs.