Lafayette Square

Kennedy Center removes 'Blue' sculpture as parkway lanes close

The Kennedy Center began dismantling Joel Shapiro's Blue sculpture, installed in 2019, as part of broader changes to the center under President Trump's push to reshape Washington's cultural institutions, with the artist's work potentially reinstalled elsewhere. The removal has drawn public reaction and involved logistical disruptions, including temporary traffic closures and ongoing debates over the center's branding and future renovations.