Last week the Kennedy Center had the outdoor statue titled “Blue” – a modern art statue of a figure kicking – removed with no prior notice; calling removal of installations “common practice”.
Now, former Kennedy Center chair David Rubenstiein has purchased the statue for over $2million and plans to display the work of art at the National Gallery of Art. Rubenstein is the chairman of the board of trustees for the National Gallery.
Standing 24 feet tall, “Blue” is an abstract, cobalt-blue sculpture that has stood outside the Kennedy Center “Reach Center since artist Joel Shapiro placed it there in 2019. Shapiro died in 2025, but Rubenstein purchased the statue from the Joel Shapiro and Ellen Phelan Foundation.
When Shapiro placed the statue in 2019, he had intended for it to be a permanent installation overlooking the Potomac River.
Reportedly, The Center had the statue moved because the White House intends a clean sweep of current art in order to install a new collection as a part of the Kennedy Center renovations.
The current Kennedy Center Board was installed in February 2025 after a hostile takeover. A group of loyalists to the White House, the Kennedy Center has plans to close the iconic venue for two years while massive renovations are made. The Board reports that the Reach Center will remain open during the reconstruction.
Chairman of the Board prior to the takeover, David Rubenstein was one of the casualties of that takeover. Over the years Rubenstein has made major contributions to the cultural and historical institutions around Washington, D.C. including $21 million for a copy of the Magna Carta; $35 million for repairs to the Lincoln, Washington, and Jefferson monuments; and $22 million to the National Zoo.
In possession of “Blue”, the National Gallery has not announced when it will be displayed.