The Button (sculpture), Philadelphia

The Button, also known as the Split Button, is a contemporary art sculpture situated at the heart of the University of Pennsylvania campus. It was created by Claes Oldenburg, a Swedish artist renowned for crafting oversized sculptures inspired by ordinary objects.

When The Button was installed in front of the Van Pelt Library on June 18, 1981, it sparked significant controversy. Some students regarded the structure as intrusive and believed it did not enhance the appearance of College Green. Although the controversy surrounding the artwork has diminished over the years since 1981, it has nonetheless become a prominent landmark and focal point of the campus.

A popular legend, primarily circulated by University of Pennsylvania students, attributes the creation of The Button to the university's founder, Benjamin Franklin. According to the tale, a monument of Franklin seated nearby depicts a moment when the corpulent figure sat down, causing his vest button to pop off and roll across Locust Walk on the university grounds. Eventually, the button came to a halt and split into two pieces, giving rise to the sculpture we see today.

Oldenburg, however, offers an alternative interpretation. He once explained that "The Split represents the Schuylkill River, dividing the button into four sections, symbolizing William Penn's original Philadelphia squares."

The name of The Button has even lent itself to a satirical blog at Penn, known as Under the Button.