The Kennedy Center took down the sculpture "Blue" by artist Joel Shapiro on Wednesday, continuing a series of changes at the cultural institution that have drawn criticism during President Donald Trump's second term.
The blue stick figure sculpture, depicting a figure in motion as if to kick or having just kicked a ball, was installed on the Kennedy Center campus in 2019. Shapiro, who died in 2025, described the work in a video posted to the Kennedy Center's YouTube channel years ago as being "about action and risk and performance and energy. It's a celebration of possibility." The sculpture may be reinstalled elsewhere through the Joel Shapiro and Ellen Phelan Foundation.
The removal follows an ongoing legal battle where the Trump-aligned Kennedy Center board seeks court approval to place the president's name on the historic institution. It also falls within broader efforts to reshape Washington during Trump's second term, including proposals for a White House ballroom expansion, a proposed triumphal arch near Arlington National Cemetery, and renovations to the presidential golf course.
What the Left Is Saying
Critics of the removal argue it represents an assault on artistic expression and cultural autonomy at federally funded institutions. Michael Sebastiani, a member of Hands off the Arts, a group partly formed in response to changes at the Kennedy Center, watched as crews disassembled the sculpture, which he described as "dismembered."
"Art is what makes you think, and that's its role in life," Sebastiani said. He noted that "Blue" served as a welcoming fixture for visitors entering the city and was used as a mascot for National Dance Day events held near it at The REACH, a 2019 addition to the Kennedy Center campus. "It brings the joy and happiness that is part of that celebration."
Cultural advocacy groups have expressed concern that removing works from public spaces limits access to art and signals a shift away from supporting diverse artistic voices at national institutions.
What the Right Is Saying
Supporters of the changes argue the Kennedy Center has discretion over its own campus and programming decisions. The institution highlighted Shapiro's contributions in a statement thanking him for "the years Blue has spent animating our campus and connecting visitors to his vision." The center said it was "honored to have been stewards of his vibrant work and a part of his enduring legacy."
Administration officials have framed the broader renovation efforts as modernizing federal facilities and enhancing how Washington represents American achievement. Proponents say such changes reflect priorities set by elected leadership for institutions that receive federal funding.
Board members aligned with the administration have emphasized their authority to make operational decisions they believe serve the institution's future, including curating which artworks best represent the Kennedy Center's mission.
What the Numbers Show
The "Blue" sculpture was installed in 2019 as part of the Kennedy Center's expansion of its campus through The REACH project. Joel Shapiro died in 2025 at age 79. The Kennedy Center receives federal appropriations as a federally chartered institution, with its board composition reflecting presidential appointments.
The Bottom Line
The removal of "Blue" marks another visible change at the Kennedy Center during Trump's second term, following ongoing litigation over branding the institution and broader proposals to alter federal spaces in Washington. The sculpture's potential reinstallation elsewhere through Shapiro's foundation offers an alternative future for the work. What remains on the Kennedy Center grounds and what changes come next will likely continue to draw attention from arts advocates and observers of federal cultural policy.