Claes Oldenburg's 1969 sculpture *Lipstick (Ascending) on Caterpillar Tracks* was vandalized in October when the letters "ATB" were etched into its metal base. Yale University is relocating the 24-foot-tall work from the Morse College courtyard to the Yale University Art Gallery for conservation and care, following the discovery of the defacement. The sculpture, a beloved campus landmark originally installed in Beinecke Plaza, has a history of being removed and restored due to weather damage and graffiti.
The removal matters because the piece is not only a major Pop art icon by a Yale alumnus but also a symbol of campus protest and social change, having served as a platform for anti–Vietnam War demonstrations and representing the arrival of women and the gay movement at Yale in 1969. Its relocation raises questions about the balance between preserving public art and maintaining its accessibility, especially given the sculpture's deep historical and cultural significance to the university community.