The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts removed a prominent outdoor sculpture titled “Blue” from its grounds on Wednesday, marking the latest change to the center’s public art collection amid ongoing controversy surrounding the institution’s management under former President Donald Trump.
Installed in 2019 as part of the Kennedy Center’s “The REACH” expansion, the vivid blue metal sculpture depicting an abstract stick-like human figure was created by the late artist Joel Shapiro. Designed to engage viewers from multiple perspectives, the piece was described at the time of its unveiling as a permanent fixture meant to celebrate themes of joy, freedom, and creativity.
The Kennedy Center did not issue a prior public notice of the removal. On Wednesday morning, crews began deinstalling the artwork, initially wrapping its limbs and torso in protective materials before dismantling began. In a statement confirming the action, the center said the sculpture’s future location would be determined by a foundation dedicated to Shapiro’s legacy but did not provide specific reasons for the decision. The statement also emphasized that artworks donated or loaned to the institution are sometimes removed for conservation or preservation purposes.
Joel Shapiro, who passed away in 2025, had gifted the sculpture to the Kennedy Center. His daughter, Ivy Shapiro, president of the artist’s foundation, expressed concern over the removal, saying she believed her father would have been “alarmed” by the decision. She underscored “Blue” as one of her father’s most significant site-specific commissions and voiced hope that the sculpture would be publicly displayed elsewhere.
The removal has drawn criticism from former Kennedy Center staff and arts advocates. Josef Palermo, who served as the center’s curator of visual arts and special programming until his layoff in March, stated that “Blue” had been “targeted early on” for removal. In a recent essay, Palermo asserted that he had been directed to take down works from the permanent collection as part of a broader plan to incorporate new art aligned with Trump-era renovations. He also criticized the center for a lack of transparency surrounding the process, emphasizing that such pieces are held in stewardship for public benefit.
The move comes amid heightened tensions over changes at the Kennedy Center during and after Trump’s tenure as chairman of the organization’s board. Trump’s contentious effort to affix his name alongside President John F. Kennedy’s on the center’s facade was blocked by a federal judge earlier this year, prompting ongoing legal battles and vocal opposition from cultural groups. Demonstrators and artists protesting what they perceive as political interference decried the removal of “Blue,” with some framing it as part of a broader pattern of diminishing artistic contributions.
“The REACH,” the $250 million expansion housing the sculpture, is the Kennedy Center’s first major addition since its founding in 1971. The project’s name is an acronym for Renew, Experience, Activate, Create, and Honor, reflecting the institution’s mission to expand access to the arts. Trump and his legal team have criticized the project and its branding in court filings, questioning its significance and embracing efforts to reshape the center’s image.
As the Kennedy Center navigates these changes, the fate of “Blue” and other artworks remains closely watched by the arts community and public officials invested in preserving cultural heritage.