Video shows Kennedy Center's famed 'Blue' sculpture being removed
A 24‑foot aluminum figure known as Blue has been taken down from the Upper Lawn of the Kennedy Center, ending a brief but memorable chapter for the post‑minimalist work.
Created by Joel Shapiro, the sculpture depicts a stick‑like human poised in mid‑kick, a gesture that animated the campus since its 2019 gift. Its sleek, kinetic form has become a recognizable landmark between the main hall and the education venue The Reach.
The Center issued a brief statement thanking Shapiro for the piece’s years of presence and noting that de‑installation of gifted or loaned works is a routine practice. The future of Blue remains unclear, with the Joel Shapiro and Ellen Phelan Foundation likely to decide its next home.
Its removal arrives amid a fraught political climate: the Board’s controversial effort to rename the grounds after President Donald Trump, costly renovation plans, and even talk of demolition have kept the institution in the headlines. The sculpture’s disappearance adds another layer to the ongoing debate over the Center’s identity and future.