Foul play ruled out in death of artist Robert Indiana

Artist Robert Indiana spends time in one of his studios on Vinalhaven in 2002. (John Ewing/Portland Press Herald file photo)

The Maine Medical Examiner’s Office has ruled out foul play in the death of artist Robert Indiana, but the cause of death remains in question.

Mark Belserene, administrator of the Office of the Medical Examiner, announced the findings Friday afternoon. In a statement to the Press Herald, he wrote, “Robert Clark (Indiana)’s cause and manner of death has been ruled ‘undetermined.’ The death is apparently natural and cardiac in nature,” he wrote. “Because of initial concerns regarding Mr. Clark’s death it is ruled undetermined and may be changed should any new information be determined in the future. However any suspicion of foul play was investigated and ruled out.”

Belserene declined to offer additional information.

Indiana, who was born Robert Clark, died May 19 at age 89 in his Vinalhaven home, which he occupied for 40 years. The day before he died, he and some associates were named in a federal lawsuit filed by an art foundation that did business with Indiana, alleging fraud and trademark violations. Indiana was best known for his widely replicated “LOVE” sculpture, which brought him to fame in the 1970s.

This story will be updated.