The Kennedy Center removed Joel Shapiro’s blue stick figure sculpture known as Blue from its campus, marking the latest flashpoint in ongoing cultural changes at the Washington institution during President Donald Trump’s second term. Installed in 2019, the minimalist artwork was taken down by crews using a crane to protectively wrap its appendages, according to on-site observations.
The Removal of ‘Blue’ and Institutional Shifts
Sculptor Joel Shapiro designed Blue to celebrate action, risk, and performance, describing it in a past Kennedy Center video as a celebration of possibility. Shapiro died in 2025, and while the physical sculpture has left the Kennedy Center grounds, the Joel Shapiro and Ellen Phelan Foundation may eventually reinstall the work at a different location. The Kennedy Center released an emailed statement expressing deep gratitude to the late artist for years of “animating our campus and connecting visitors to his vision.”
This removal occurs alongside a broader legal and physical overhaul at the arts institution. A Trump-aligned board has been fighting in court to add the president’s name to the historic building. These changes parallel other proposed and ongoing capital projects around Washington, such as demolishing the White House East Wing to construct a ballroom, renovating a golf course, and building a triumphal arch near Arlington National Cemetery.
Did you know? Blue previously served as a mascot for National Dance Day in September 2019, anchoring community celebrations near The REACH, an outdoor addition to the Kennedy Center campus.
Public Reaction and Community Response
Michael Sebastiani, a member of the group Hands Off the Arts—formed to contest changes made by the Trump administration to the center—watched crews disassemble the piece.
“Art is what makes you think, and that’s its role in life,” Sebastiani said, describing the sculpture as a welcoming fixture for visitors entering the city. He added that community members were deeply saddened to see the landmark removed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who created the sculpture ‘Blue’?
The sculpture was designed by Joel Shapiro, who was known for breathing life into otherwise minimalist stick figures.
Where is the sculpture now?
Following its removal from the Kennedy Center, the piece is managed through the Joel Shapiro and Ellen Phelan Foundation, with potential plans for future reinstallation elsewhere.
Why was the sculpture removed?
The removal coincides with ongoing administrative and aesthetic shifts at the Kennedy Center under its Trump-aligned board.
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