Kennedy Center Begins Removing 2019 ‘Blue’ Sculpture After Trump Takeover

Q: Where will this iconic 24-foot blue landmark ultimately end up once the foundation decides its fate?

It is not known yet. The Kennedy Center has said only that “Blue” will be relocated and that the Joel Shapiro and Ellen Phelan Foundation will decide its next destination. Based on the reporting available, no new site has been publicly identified, and neither the center nor the foundation has announced whether the 24-foot sculpture will go to another museum, a public plaza, a private collection, storage, or a conservation facility before reinstallation. What is clear is that the work was created specifically for the Reach in 2019 and had been treated as a permanent installation there. Its removal means the next location will depend on the foundation’s judgment about stewardship, preservation, and public display. Until that decision is made and disclosed, the sculpture’s ultimate home remains undetermined.

3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Sep 2

Workers on Wednesday started deinstalling Joel Shapiro’s outdoor sculpture “Blue” at the Kennedy Center, wrapping the figure’s torso and limbs before removing one arm.
Internal documents obtained by the New York Times said the work was targeted for elimination after President Trump’s takeover of the center.
The Kennedy Center confirmed Tuesday that the sculpture was being removed and said a foundation tied to the artist would decide its next location, without citing a political reason.
A release from the sculpture’s debut had described “Blue,” installed in 2019, as a permanent work on the grounds, making the unannounced removal a sharp reversal.