WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Kennedy Center removed the sculpture Blue from its grounds on Wednesday, September 2, 2026. The deinstallation ended a seven-year display of the work designed by artist Joel Shapiro.

The 24-foot tall painted-aluminum stick figure depicts a figure poised in action, described as mid-kick. Shapiro created the sculpture specifically for the site and donated it to the Kennedy Center. It was installed outside The REACH, an addition to the Kennedy Center campus that opened in 2019.

A Kennedy Center spokesperson described the deinstallation as common practice. The institution issued a statement regarding the departure of the artwork. “We are deeply grateful to Joel Shapiro for the years Blue has spent animating our campus and connecting visitors to his vision.” The statement added, “We are honored to have been stewards of his vibrant work and a part of his enduring legacy.”

Michael Sebastiani, a member of the group Hands Off the Arts, criticized the removal of the sculpture. He stated the sculpture was a welcoming fixture for people entering the city. Sebastiani said the sculpture was the mascot for National Dance Day on September 19, with events held near it.

Sebastiani said art is what makes you think, and that is its role in life. He also expressed personal regret over the change, saying the group was really sad to see the sculpture gone.

The activist organization Hands Off the Arts called the removal of the sculpture buffoonery in an Instagram post. Shapiro died in 2025, a year before the removal occurred. In a video, the artist described the sculpture as being about action, risk, performance, and energy.

Shapiro described the work as a celebration of possibility. The Shapiro and Ellen Phelan Foundation will determine where the sculpture is installed next.

Timeline

The sculpture Blue was installed at the Kennedy Center in 2019. Shapiro died in 2025. On that same day, the Kennedy Center requested the closure of northbound lanes of Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway from 6 a.m. until approximately 1 p.m. on September 2, 2026, to facilitate the removal. The activist organization Hands Off the Arts called the removal of the sculpture buffoonery in an Instagram post on September 2, 2026. Blockades were placed at the E Street on-ramp and near the intersections of Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway with Parkway Drive NW and F Street NW on September 2, 2026.

What's New

Additional reporting established that the Kennedy Center requested the closure of northbound lanes of Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway from 6 a.m. until approximately 1 p.m. on September 2, 2026, to facilitate the removal.

Further details identified the sculpture Blue as a 24-foot tall painted-aluminum stick figure. Blockades were placed at the E Street on-ramp and near the intersections of Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway with Parkway Drive NW and F Street NW. The National Park Service stated the road closure was necessary due to the sculpture's location and to protect the removal crew and public.

Why It Matters

The removal of Blue marks the end of a specific era for the Kennedy Center campus, which expanded in 2019 with The REACH. The sculpture served as a reference point for seven years, acting as a mascot for events such as National Dance Day. Its departure draws attention to the lifecycle of donated public art and the institutional practices governing such works. The Kennedy Center characterized the move as standard procedure, while advocacy groups viewed it as a loss of a welcoming fixture.

The future location of the 24-foot aluminum figure remains undetermined. The Shapiro and Ellen Phelan Foundation holds the authority to decide where the sculpture will be installed next. This transition occurs after the death of the artist in 2025, placing the stewardship of the work entirely with the foundation. The event shows the intersection of public space management, artistic legacy, and community attachment to site-specific installations.