Crews began removing a towering artwork known as “Blue” from the grounds of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026. The 24-foot aluminum sculpture, created by late American postminimalist sculptor Joel Shapiro, was installed on the center’s Upper Lawn in 2019. The artwork depicts a human stick figure poised in mid-kick between the main Kennedy Center building and The Reach, a 2019 campus addition used for arts education.
Removal of Joel Shapiro’s Sculpture “Blue” From the Kennedy Center
To facilitate the removal, the National Park Service implemented a temporary road closure early Wednesday according to a public notice. A crane was spotted taking down the sculpture’s appendages with its arms and legs wrapped protectively, while workers in high-visibility vests operated around it in the sun. The Kennedy Center did not publicly announce the reason behind the statue’s deinstallation, noting in a statement that gifted or loaned artworks are frequently removed at art institutions worldwide.
Artist Legacy and Future of the Artwork
Joel Shapiro, who died in June 2025, was known for creating minimalist stick figures infused with life. In a video posted to the Kennedy Center’s YouTube channel years ago, Shapiro described the piece as being about action and risk and performance and energy. It’s a celebration of possibility.
The future of the sculpture remains unknown, though the Joel Shapiro and Ellen Phelan Foundation may decide to reinstall the artwork elsewhere. Following the deinstallation, the Kennedy Center stated: We are deeply grateful to Joel Shapiro for the years Blue has spent animating our campus and connecting visitors to his vision. We are honored to have been stewards of his vibrant work and a part of his enduring legacy.
Broader Controversies and Renovation Plans at the Institution
The removal of the sculpture unfolds during President Donald Trump’s second term as the cultural and performing arts center remains a focus of ongoing political and cultural disputes. Trump Plaza.
This move remains tied up in court and has not taken effect, persisting despite a federal judge’s previous ruling that the center’s official name cannot be changed without Congress. Government lawyers have argued that the new signage would recognize Trump’s role in renovating the building rather than formally renaming it.
Renovation plans for the facility have also involved dramatic developments. In an August court filing, the Trump administration warned that the Kennedy Center could eventually face demolition if critical repairs are not completed, suggesting it could be replaced with an outdoor amphitheater though officials have downplayed the idea as an immediate plan. Additionally, the board voted last month to close the facility for two years as part of renovations expected to exceed $250 million.
Public Reaction and Community Response
The deinstallation drew local observers to the scene, including Michael Sebastiani, who is part of the group Hands Off the Arts—an organization partly formed to push back against the Trump administration’s changes to the Kennedy Center. Sebastiani stood nearby as the sculpture was disassembled, describing the process as being dismembered.
Art is what makes you think, and that’s its role in life,
Sebastiani said, calling the sculpture a very welcoming fixture, if you will, for folks coming into the city, and we’re just really sad to see her gone.
He noted that “Blue” previously served as the mascot for National Dance Day on Sept. 19, with celebration events held near it on The REACH. According to Sebastiani, the sculpture brought the joy and happiness that is part of that celebration.
