Kennedy Center Removes 24-Foot "Blue" Sculpture Amid Broader Changes

The Kennedy Center removed a towering sculpture from its grounds as the Washington performing arts center undergoes a series of changes under President Donald Trump's second-term administration.

Workers have dismantled Joel Shapiro's 24-foot “Blue” sculpture at the Kennedy Center in Washington. [Photo: National Peace Corps Association]

The 24-foot aluminum sculpture, “Blue,” was created by American postminimalist sculptor Joel Shapiro and installed at the Kennedy Center in 2019. The work depicts a humanlike stick figure poised in mid-kick. 

The National Park Service temporarily closed nearby roads Wednesday morning to facilitate the removal.

The sculpture stood near the Video Wall at the REACH, the Kennedy Center's $250 million expansion, which opened in 2019. REACH stands for Renew, Experience, Activate, Create and Honor. 

The Kennedy Center said the removal was carried out at its request but did not publicly provide a specific reason.

The Joel Shapiro and Ellen Phelan Foundation will determine where the sculpture is relocated.

The removal comes amid broader changes at the Kennedy Center since Trump took control of its board. Internal documents obtained by The New York Times indicated that “Blue” had been targeted for removal after Trump's takeover. 

The Kennedy Center said it was grateful to Shapiro for the years the sculpture had been displayed on its campus. Shapiro died in 2025.