Billionaire philanthropist David Rubenstein has purchased the abstract sculpture "Blue" removed from the Kennedy Center grounds. The 24-foot aluminum piece, painted vivid blue and depicting a figure mid-kick, will eventually be displayed at the National Gallery of Art's Sculpture Garden. Rubenstein paid more than $2 million, sources said. Mr. Rubenstein was ousted as Kennedy Center board chairman in early 2025 during President Trump's takeover and is now chairman of the National Gallery's board.

The sculpture was created by Joel Shapiro, who died in 2025, as a gift for the Reach addition partly funded by Rubenstein. After its removal without notice, it went to the artist's foundation run by his daughter Ivy Shapiro, who said her father would have been "alarmed." The Kennedy Center board voted to close for a two-year, $250 million renovation championed by Mr. Trump, though a federal judge temporarily blocked the closure and rejected adding Trump's name to the title. Officials now seek approval to close and inscribe the president's name on the facade, citing congressional funding.