JOHNSONVILLE, Wis. — What is believed to be one of the last pieces by the late Robert Indiana, the artist made famous by his iconic “LOVE” works, is in place outside the Johnsonville sausage company in Sheboygan County.

The 20-foot-tall stacked red letters spell “BRAT” and are a take on Indiana’s enduring pop art “LOVE” series with its “LO” stacked on top of the “VE.” Indiana died earlier this year at age 89.

The Journal Sentinel reports that despite questions raised about artwork attributed to Indiana near the end of his life, Johnsonville’s owners are confident in the sculpture’s authenticity. A federal lawsuit alleges that a caregiver and art publisher took advantage of Indiana, created forgeries under his name and sold them to unsuspecting collectors.

The Johnsonville sculpture bears a copyright mark and the artist’s name.


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