David Rubenstein, a prominent philanthropist and former chairman of the Kennedy Center, has purchased the modern sculpture “Blue.” This artwork, originally located at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, was removed last week and is valued at over $2 million.
Rubenstein, who was ousted from his position by President Donald Trump in 2025, aims to display the sculpture in the Sculpture Garden of the National Gallery of Art. He currently serves as chairman of the board of trustees for the National Gallery. The acquisition of the artwork was initially reported by the New York Times.
On September 2, workers were photographed preparing to remove the last piece of the sculpture from the grounds of the Kennedy Center. This relocation marks an important transition for the artwork as it moves to a new public display space.