Kennedy Center removes Joel Shapiro’s ‘Blue’ sculpture

The Kennedy Center began the removal of ‘Blue’, a 24-foot aluminum sculpture by the late Joel Shapiro, on Wednesday, September 2, 2026. The piece, which depicts a stick figure in mid-kick, had been installed at the center’s REACH campus in 2019.

While the Kennedy Center described the deinstallation as ‘common practice’ for conservation or preservation, the move has sparked controversy. Former curator Josef Palermo claimed the removal was part of an order to clear all outdoor art to make way for new works desired by President Donald Trump. A person familiar with the matter denied this account. The removal occurs amid a broader effort by the Trump-aligned board to reshape the institution, including legal battles over adding the president’s name to the building.

The National Park Service authorized temporary road closures on the Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway to facilitate the use of cranes during the operation. The Joel Shapiro and Ellen Phelan Foundation will determine the sculpture’s future location. Activist groups, such as Hands Off the Arts, have criticized the removal as part of a larger pattern of political changes at the cultural landmark.