Another piece of art tangles in controversy is Maya Lin's Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Like Serra, Lin produced a work in a public space that evoked strong emotions in viewers. The wall, including 57,939 names in all, is a journey from the recognition of the brutality and violence of war to a private reflection of serenity. Despite Lin's effort, the public was dissatisfied with the memorial. Almost every element of Lin's design became the topic of controversy. One of the most problematic elements of the memorial to the public was the chosen color of the wall. Black is a considered a color of mourning and it was interpreted by many as a statement of shame and dishonor, especially in contrast to the many white memorials in Washington.

Lin recognized the public's connection to black with negativity, but stated that she found black:

"A lot more peaceful and able to reflect its surroundings when polished. The point is to see yourself reflected in the names. Also the mirror image doubles and triples the space. I thought black was a beautiful color and appropriate to the design."

However, the color black made it difficult to separate honoring veterans from the blackness of shame and war. The public was quick to scrutinize and the memorial's intent was lost because of the failed effort to realize the importance and significance of the symbols in the psychology of the artwork. Many argued that the memorial is not a public statement about individual artistic rights, but rather a site for public and personal expression about Vietnam.