At the heart of the Ratner Museum is the work and legacy of Phillip Ratner, a Washington, D.C.-born, internationally recognized sculptor, painter, and storyteller whose work spans sculpture, drawing, tapestry, and graphic arts. His practice was rooted in narrative, bringing to life themes of the Hebrew Bible, immigration, and the human experience with depth and emotion.

A graduate of the Pratt Institute and American University, Phillip began his career as an educator, including teaching at Anacostia High School in Washington, D.C., before dedicating himself fully to his artistic practice. Over decades, his work has been exhibited and collected by major institutions including the Smithsonian Institution, the United States Supreme Court, and the Library of Congress.

Perhaps most widely recognized are his works connected to Ellis Island and his bronze sculptures at the Statue of Liberty, where his deeply personal connection to the immigrant experience — shared by his own family — became a defining thread in his work.

The museum itself was founded in collaboration with his cousin, Dennis Ratner, an entrepreneur and founder of Hair Cuttery. As third-generation Washingtonians, Phillip and Dennis came from a family deeply rooted in the arts, culture, and creative expression in Washington, with family members among the founding contributors to the National Symphony Orchestra. This legacy continues to reflect the family's enduring commitment to supporting and advancing the arts.

Together, they first established the Israel Bible Museum in Safed in the 1980s, followed by the Ratner Museum in Bethesda, conceived as a permanent home for Phillip's life's work and a gift to the Washington community.

Their shared vision was grounded in the belief that art carries story across generations. Today, the Ratner Museum stands as both a cultural institution and a deeply personal archive, honoring a lifetime of artistic expression while continuing to evolve as a space for community, education, and creative dialogue.