David Rubenstein Buys Kennedy Center’s Removed “Blue” Sculpture for More Than $2 Million
David Rubenstein has purchased “Blue,” the 24-foot abstract sculpture removed from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts last week, for more than $2 million, according to people familiar with the sale. The artwork is expected to eventually be displayed in the Sculpture Garden at the National Gallery of Art, where Rubenstein serves as chairman of the board of trustees.
The purchase comes just days after workers dismantled the striking blue sculpture at the Kennedy Center on September 2, 2026, turning an already controversial removal into a new chapter for one of Washington’s most recognizable pieces of public art.
Why David Rubenstein Bought “Blue”
Rubenstein purchased the sculpture from the Joel Shapiro and Ellen Phelan Foundation, which received the artwork after it was removed from the Kennedy Center grounds. The sale price was reported as more than $2 million.
The eventual destination is expected to be the National Gallery of Art’s Sculpture Garden in Washington, D.C. The exact timing for its installation has not been announced.
The move also gives the sculpture a connection to Rubenstein’s long history of supporting Washington’s cultural institutions.
The National Gallery identifies Rubenstein as its board chair. He has served on the museum’s board since 2015 and previously made a $10 million contribution toward expansion of its East Building.
“Blue” Was Removed From the Kennedy Center on September 2
Designed by artist Joel Shapiro, “Blue” was installed in 2019 near The REACH, the Kennedy Center’s expansion overlooking the Potomac River.
The 24-foot work depicts an abstract human figure seemingly caught in motion, with one leg raised. Shapiro described it as a celebration of possibility.
Workers dismantled the sculpture piece by piece using a crane. The Kennedy Center did not provide advance public notice of the removal or initially explain why it was being taken down.
The center said the foundation representing Shapiro’s artistic legacy would determine where the sculpture would go next.
The Removal Became Part of the Kennedy Center Debate
“Blue” was removed amid a much larger transformation at the Kennedy Center following President Donald Trump’s takeover of the institution in 2025.
Trump replaced much of the center’s board and became chairman as the institution moved toward a major renovation and rebranding effort. The changes have generated criticism from arts advocates and former Kennedy Center personnel.
Former Kennedy Center curator Josef Palermo has said that then-president Richard Grenell instructed him to remove outdoor artwork because Trump wanted a new collection when the center reopened. Those comments are Palermo’s account and should not be treated as an independently established explanation for the removal of “Blue.”
The Kennedy Center itself has not publicly confirmed that political preferences were the reason “Blue” was removed.
That distinction matters because the sculpture’s removal and the broader redesign of the Kennedy Center have become intertwined in public debate, while the precise institutional reasoning for this particular artwork’s removal remains disputed.
Rubenstein Has Deep Ties to the Kennedy Center
The purchase is especially notable because Rubenstein was previously one of the Kennedy Center’s most influential supporters.
He served as chairman for years and personally contributed $111 million to the institution, making him its largest individual donor at the time. His support also helped fund The REACH expansion, which opened in 2019.
Rubenstein was removed from the Kennedy Center’s leadership during Trump’s takeover of the institution in early 2025. He now remains closely involved with Washington’s cultural organizations through his role at the National Gallery of Art.
What Happens to “Blue” Next?
For now, the sculpture’s dismantled components are being handled through the Shapiro foundation, following the sale to Rubenstein.
The planned destination is the National Gallery of Art’s Sculpture Garden, where “Blue” would join works by major artists including Alexander Calder, Louise Bourgeois, Joan Miró and Marc Chagall, as well as another Shapiro sculpture.
The relocation means “Blue” is not disappearing from Washington’s cultural landscape. Instead, the sculpture is expected to move from a politically contentious chapter at the Kennedy Center to a new home at one of the city’s leading art institutions.
Why David Rubenstein Is Trending Now
Rubenstein’s name is trending because the development connects three major Washington stories at once: the removal of a prominent Kennedy Center artwork, the ongoing transformation of the institution under Trump, and Rubenstein’s return to the story as the artwork’s new owner.
The timing is particularly striking. “Blue” was dismantled on September 2, and news of Rubenstein’s purchase emerged on September 7, making the acquisition the newest development in a story that began with the sculpture’s sudden removal.
For readers who followed the initial controversy, the purchase answers an important question left open by the removal: What would happen to “Blue” after leaving the Kennedy Center?
The answer now appears to be a new home in the National Gallery of Art’s Sculpture Garden.
FAQs
Who is David Rubenstein?
David Rubenstein is a Washington philanthropist and co-founder and co-chairman of The Carlyle Group. He is also chairman of the National Gallery of Art’s board of trustees.
How much did David Rubenstein pay for “Blue”?
The sculpture was purchased for more than $2 million, according to people familiar with the sale.
Who created the “Blue” sculpture?
“Blue” was created by artist Joel Shapiro and installed at the Kennedy Center in 2019. Shapiro died in 2025.
Why was “Blue” removed from the Kennedy Center?
The Kennedy Center confirmed the removal but did not publicly provide a specific reason. Claims that the removal was part of a broader effort to replace the center’s outdoor artwork have come from former Kennedy Center curator Josef Palermo and other reporting, but the precise rationale remains disputed.
Where will “Blue” be displayed?
The sculpture is expected to eventually be displayed in the Sculpture Garden at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. The timing of its installation has not been announced.
