Kennedy Center Removes Shapiro’s “Blue” Sculpture Amid Trump-Era Overhaul

The Kennedy Center dismantled Joel Shapiro’s 24-foot “Blue” sculpture in early September 2026, ending its brief tenure on the venue’s grounds. Billionaire philanthropist David Rubenstein, former chair of the Center until his 2025 dismissal by President Donald Trump, has agreed to purchase the work from the Joel Shapiro and Ellen Phelan Foundation and lend it to the Sculpture Garden of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC. The Kennedy Center said the removal was carried out at the request of the foundation; a National Park Service notice indicated the teardown began before sunrise and was completed by early afternoon.

The Independent

After firing Rubenstein, Trump installed himself as board chairman and pursued a series of re-branding actions. Kennedy’s name on the façade and to rename the surrounding grounds “President Donald J. Trump Plaza.” A U.S. District Judge, Christopher R. Cooper, later barred the name change, ruling that the memorial may bear only Kennedy’s name.

The Independent

The Department of Justice argued that the Center’s financial and structural survival depends on presidential support, warning that the building could face demolition if the renovation plan is halted.

The Independent

• “Vision for a Golden Age in Arts and Culture,” — Donald Trump, board by president

The Independent