I Love New York is a slogan, a logo, and a song that are the basis of an advertising campaign developed by the marketing firm Wells, Rich, and Greene under the directorship of Mary Wells Lawrence used since 1977 to promote tourism in the state of New York. The trademarked logo, owned by the New York State Department of Economic Development, appears in souvenir shops and brochures throughout the state, some licensed, many not.
Nick Walker's "Love Vandal" at 17th Street and 6th Avenue in Manhattan, 2015
Actor Robin Williams wearing a T-shirt with the logo translated into Arabic as "I love ❤ New York", in 2003
An I ❤️ SH sign in Shanghai, China in the style of "I love NY"
Mary Georgene Wells Lawrence was an American advertising executive. She was the founding president of Wells, Rich, Greene, an advertising agency known for its creative work. She was the first female CEO of a company listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Wells Lawrence was awarded the Lion of St. Mark for her lifetime achievements at the 2020 Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity.
Mary Wells Lawrence at her desk, 1969