The Kennedy Center will remove the Joel Shapiro 'Blue' statue on Wednesday, causing temporary road closures.

The Kennedy Center will remove the blue-painted aluminum sculpture titled 'Blue' by artist Joel Shapiro on Wednesday, September 2. The statue, which has been on display since 2019, will be moved from its location at The Reach, the center's expansion area.

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To accommodate the removal, the National Park Service will temporarily close the northbound lane of Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway NW from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. The closure includes blockades at the E Street on-ramp and other nearby intersections to allow a crane to occupy the lane. The National Park Service stated the closures are necessary to ensure the safety of the crew and the public. The Joel Shapiro and Ellen Phelan Foundation will determine the next location for the sculpture at a time in the future. The statue was created by Joel Shapiro, who died in 2025. The Kennedy Center has not released an official reason for the removal, though internal documents suggest it was scheduled to be taken down during the second term of President Trump.

Sources

• WJLA
  'Blue' statue removal at the Kennedy Center to disrupt traffic on Potomac Parkway
• FOX 5 DC
  Kennedy Center set to remove 'Blue' statue

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Paywall and unreadable sources

• The Washington Post
  Kennedy Center to remove landmark ‘Blue’ sculpture from campus
• WUSA9
  Traffic alert: Kennedy Center removes Blue statue, bringing partial closures to Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway
• National Park Service (.gov)
  Rock Creek Parkway Closure ROD - National Mall and Memorial Parks (U.S. National Park Service)