Trump-Ousted Kennedy Center Chairman Buys Removed Shapiro Sculpture
Billionaire philanthropist David Rubenstein reportedly plans to install "Blue" (2019) in the sculpture garden at the National Gallery of Art.
David Rubenstein, the ousted chairman of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts board, has acquired Joel Shapiro's 24-foot-tall sculpture "Blue" (2019) following its removal from the Kennedy Center grounds. The National Park Service initiated the removal of the sculpture on September 2, placing its future in the hands of the Joel Shapiro and Ellen Phelan Foundation.
The removal sparked criticism from artists, cultural workers, and organizations such as Hands Off the Arts. Rubenstein, a billionaire philanthropist who has supported institutions like the Smithsonian Institution and the National Park Service, purchased "Blue" for $2 million, with plans to relocate it to the National Gallery of Art's sculpture garden, according to the New York Times.
Rubenstein was among several Biden appointees removed from the Kennedy Center board by President Donald Trump in February 2025. During his time on the board, Rubenstein donated $50 million to the center's REACH expansion project, aiming to honor President John F. Kennedy's vision of uniting artists and audiences. "Blue" was given to the Kennedy Center as its inaugural landmark when the REACH campus opened in 2019.
Former President Donald Trump replaced the previous board members with his supporters and assumed the chairman role, previously held by Rubenstein.
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