Venetian Boots “Love” Photo Op for “The Wizard of Oz” Ad

By Scott Roeben, on August 16 2025
3 min read 2 comments
Las Vegas

In a visual metaphor for the ages, Venetian has removed its iconic “Love” photo op and replaced it with an ad for “The Wizard of Oz,” already causing a stir at Sphere.

As if there weren’t already a shortage of love in Las Vegas. Cirque’s Beatles-themed “Love” show closed at Mirage in July 2024.

Venetian says the “Love” artwork will be back, but that sort of ruins the narrative “everything is ruined,” so we’re just going to harp on the lame part of the story if that’s cool with you.

Whoever said “All you need is love” never tried chicken parm.

The “Love” statue was located in the Venetian’s (or possibly Palazzo’s) gloriously Grammable Waterfall Atrium. It’s been there since 2016.

We’ve never been to Venetian when there weren’t tourists posing with the “Love” statue. It’s sort of interactive, because you can get inside the letters without security shouting at you.

The letters in “Love” are perforated with bird-shaped stamps.

We took this photo in 2016 in the hopes we could use it some day. This is that day.

The piece is 12 feet tall and 36 feet across, and is sort of a rip-off of the famous “Love” sculpture (also very red) by Robert Indiana that’s been around since the early 1960s.

The “Love” sculpture is by famed artist Laura Kimpton, who we didn’t know existed until writing this sentence. The piece is part of Kimpton’s Monumental Word Series. Other words in the series include bigass metal “Believe,” “Dream” and “Ego.”

Lots of Vegas tie-ins! Criss Angel “Believe” closed April 17, 2016. Construction of the Dream hotel in Las Vegas was halted in 2023 due to a lack of funding. “Ego”? See also Criss Angel.

Sounds like an urban myth in the making. Like the one about Garth Brooks being a serial killer, further confirmation America is currently experiencing peak stupid.

The removal of the artwork was first shared by Chris Holmes on Twitter.

Before the “Love” art found a home at Venetian/Palazzo, it was installed at the Life is Beautiful music festival in downtown Las Vegas.

The artist says of the work, “‘Love’ is about being free to love who you want, the way you want. The bird stamps in the letters represent being able to follow your dreams, which is the message that I hope will inspire people as they interact with the piece. Las Vegas is the city where people pursue their dreams, and this sculpture will act as a touchstone for this pursuit.”

Here’s a look at what replaced it.

Sphere’s controversial take on “The Wizard of Oz” debuts on August 28, 2025. The $80 million remake (which you heard about in this blog first, of course) has whipped up a controversy because it takes liberties with the sacrosanct source material.

Die hard fans of “Oz” have called Sphere’s update “vandalism,” despite never having, you know, actually seen it.

Sphere officials say 120,000 tickets have been sold to the refreshed 90-year-old movie.

Shortly after the removal of the “Love” statue, Rio chimed in on Twitter saying it would host the statue temporarily. We naturally suggested they should create their own artwork, something a little more Vegas-appropriate.

This part of Rio could use a little help. You’re welcome, Rio.

If you’re feeling all out of love, maybe get your photo op with this thing touting Grand Canal Shoppes.

See, it’s love, but it’s in Italian (Venice is located in Italy) and it’s an ad for a mall. Vegas gonna Vegas.

Or better yet, get your selfie with another massive “Love” in the Linq Promenade at the I Love Sugar store.

If you look for it…you’ll find that love actually is all around. Who knew “Love Actually” was actually about Las Vegas?

If you’re feeling all out of love, never fear.

There’s a Bob Marley thing at Mandalay Bay now, and he was all about love.

In “Could You Be Loved,” Marley explores themes of love, self-acceptance and resilience. It’s a call to embrace love in all its forms, for oneself and others.

One of our top Las Vegas money-saving tips is to perform some self-love prior to visiting a strip club. You will save a fortune.

Reminder: Money can’t buy you love, but in Las Vegas, it can get you something very, very close.

The “Love” statue returns to the Venetian atrium at the end of 2025, when the verdict will be in on Sphere’s big gamble with “The Wizard of Oz.”