Hesh on steps

1980 – 2021

HESH HALPER

Hesh Halper’s chalk hearts filled Lower Manhattan with a force field of of Love. Hesh started chalking hearts as a gesture of affection for a woman he was dating. The relationship didn’t last, but the hearts made him feel better—so he continued drawing them. Hesh soon began sharing the comforting symbols of Hearts and Love, calling himself New York Romantic.

The New York Romantic

“A Heart makes you feel good when you are not feeling good. And a Heart makes you feel great when you are feeling great.”

An uncanny urban folk hero, he became a beloved fixture in SoHo, the Village, and Chelsea. His hearts—on streets, sidewalks, and walls—lifted the spirits of New Yorkers. Hesh’s legacy of spreading Love and Kindness lives on through World of Hearts.