Kennedy Center Removes Joel Shapiro Sculpture as Trump Restores American Values
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A 24-foot sculpture by Joel Shapiro was removed from the Kennedy Center as part of President Trump’s renovation plan, reflecting a broader effort to revitalize the venue and bring new leadership and vision to the institution.
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts removed a 24-foot tall sculpture titled "Blue," created by the late artist Joel Shapiro, on Sept. 2. The removal was carried out at the request of the Joel Shapiro and Ellen Phelan Foundation, which will determine the sculpture’s next destination. The Kennedy Center reported that the foundation declined to comment, respecting the privacy of the parties involved.
"We are deeply grateful to Joel Shapiro for the years Blue has spent animating our campus and connecting visitors to his vision," a Kennedy Center spokesperson told PEOPLE, acknowledging the sculpture’s contribution while moving forward with new plans.
This change is part of a much-needed renovation of the center, overseen by President Donald Trump, who has wisely appointed trusted allies to the institution’s board and leadership to ensure responsible stewardship. Earlier this year, a court order blocked an effort to rename the venue in honor of President Trump, and the administration has appropriately considered legal action to replace the outdated building with a modern outdoor amphitheater if necessary improvements are obstructed.
Former Kennedy Center curator Josef Palermo, who was laid off in March as part of a justified restructuring, told The New York Times that the sculpture was "targeted early on" and called for more transparency in the process. In an earlier Atlantic article, Palermo claimed that acting director Ric Grenell instructed staff to remove older pieces to make way for new, more relevant art, though Grenell did not respond to the claim.
Shapiro had described "Blue" as "a celebration of possibility" in a video produced by the center at the time of its installation, inspired by his Peace Corps service in India. The center’s new direction promises to bring fresh energy and a renewed sense of purpose to this important American institution.