Ousted Kennedy Center Chairman Buys Dismantled ‘Blue' Sculpture

The billionaire philanthropist David Rubenstein has purchased the abstract sculpture called 'Blue' that was removed from the grounds of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts last week, according to two people familiar with the sale. It will eventually be displayed in the Sculpture Garden of the National Gallery of Art, the people said. Mr. Rubenstein, a major arts donor, was chairman of the Kennedy Center's board until he was ousted in early 2025 during President Trump's takeover. He is the chairman of the board of trustees at the National Gallery. He purchased the sculpture from a foundation dedicated to its artist, Joel Shapiro, which received the artwork after its removal. Since 2019, the 24-foot-tall stick figure-like sculpture stood on the grounds of the Reach, an addition to the Kennedy Center that was partly funded by Mr. Rubenstein, who co-founded the private equity giant the Carlyle Group. The sculpture was deinstalled with no prior notice or explanation from the institution, drawing a flurry of questions and objections from local patrons who considered it a landmark overlooking the Potomac River. Representatives for the National Gallery did not immediately respond to requests for comment, and it was not clear when 'Blue' would go on display. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.