New Jan. 17 Love stamp expresses the universal emotion

By Scott Tiffney

With a first-day ceremony on Jan. 17, 2025, in Kutztown, Pa., the United States Postal Service will issue a new nondenominated (73¢) Love forever stamp in a pane of 20.

The new Love stamp celebrates the universal experience of love by picturing an untitled work by Pennsylvania artist Keith Haring (1958–90).

Rendered in Haring’s signature style, the design features a 1985 drawing showing a large red heart with thick black lines radiating from it. Underneath the heart are two nondescript figures raising their hands toward the heart. According to the Postal Service, “the joyful image allows the viewer to project their own meaning of love in the context of their choosing. Haring’s work is rich in meaning and appeals to people from all backgrounds.”

Born in Reading, Pa., and raised in nearby Kutztown, the hometown artist often referred to himself as “Keith from Kutztown.” At this time, there is no further information about the Kutztown first-day ceremony, but Linn’s will publish event information in a future issue as it becomes available.

In 1976 Haring graduated from Kutztown Area High School and later studied at the Ivy School of Professional Art in Pittsburgh before moving to New York City. There Haring gained fame for his spontaneous drawings in city subways.

From these humble beginnings, his artwork went on to adorn spaces in hospitals, daycare centers and schools. Haring’s works centered on political and societal themes such as drug abuse, apartheid, safe sex and

Beyond the more conventional platforms for his art, Haring’s artistic talent would later be commissioned for a mural on the Berlin Wall, sets for the music television network MTV, and a painting for Live Aid’s 1985 concert in Philadelphia. Contemporary artists such as Andy Warhol, Yoko Ono and Madonna were among those who appreciated and were inspired by his work.

Haring was diagnosed with AIDS in 1988 and died in 1990 of AIDS-related complications. However, the artist used the personal experience to help his audience understand the illness and to promote AIDS awareness.

USPS art director Antonio Alcala designed the new Love stamp using the untitled Haring illustration. Alcala was also the designer of the 2024 Love forever stamp (Scott 5826), which features a stylized image, created by digital artist Katie Kirk, of a soaring bird holding an envelope sealed with a valentine heart in its beak.

The design of the 2025 issue was intentionally less specific and sought to portray a more universal rendering of love. “The non-specificity of the figures allows a variety of people to see themselves in this stamp,” Alcala said.

Hinting further at the universality of the stamp’s two figures, Alcala said the image could show “partners getting married, celebrating an anniversary, siblings sending each other a heartfelt greeting, or even party planners setting a positive tone for their event.”

As with previous Love issues, the 2025 stamp is being issued as a forever stamp that will always be equal in value to the current first-class domestic letter rate.

The first U.S. Love stamp was issued in 1973. That 8¢ stamp (Scott 1475) reproduced a …

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