A Manhattan jury has ordered art publisher Michael McKenzie to pay $102.2 million in damages for creating unauthorized or adulterated versions of works by the late Pop artist Robert Indiana. The lawsuit, brought by Indiana’s former business partner the Morgan Art Foundation, alleged that McKenzie produced Indiana-related junk products that infringed trademark and copyright, including reproductions of Indiana’s iconic “LOVE” design and the artworks *The Ninth American Dream* (2001) and *USA FUN* (1965). The jury found McKenzie liable for exploiting Indiana in the final years of his life, after the artist granted power of attorney to his caretaker, Jamie Thomas.
The verdict is significant because it restores trust in the market for Robert Indiana’s work, which had been clouded by unauthorized reproductions and questions about the artist’s late-career output. By holding McKenzie accountable, the ruling protects the integrity of Indiana’s legacy and sends a strong message against the exploitation of aging artists. The case also highlights the vulnerability of artists who become isolated in their later years, and the legal mechanisms that can be used to defend their estates and reputations.