Simon Salama-Caro, founder of The Robert Indiana Legacy Initiative, first met Robert Indiana in 1987 through their mutual friend, the French conceptual artist Bernar Venet. Soon after, Salama-Caro and Indiana embarked on their first project together – the translation into bronze of eight wood and iron Indiana sculptures made from found materials in the early 1960s, which were included in the solo exhibition Robert Indiana: Early Sculpture, 1960-1962 at the Salama-Caro Gallery in London in 1991.
In 1995 Indiana discussed with Salama-Caro a long-held vision of completing the editions from his sculpture series LOVE, ART, AHAVA, and ONE Through ZERO (The Ten Numbers)—all conceived during the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s–within his lifetime. Salama-Caro recognized the extraordinary costs that would be involved and began organizing the funding for this ambitious undertaking. Indiana specified the color combinations and sizes for each edition, and in 1998 AMOR was added to the series.
Salama-Caro was entrusted by the artist to author and produce a catalogue raisonné of his complete oeuvre and is considered a leading authority on the artist’s work. Working alongside his family members, he continues to actively assist in exhibition programming and legacy building projects.
