At the heart of the Ratner Museum is the work and legacy of Phillip Ratner, a Washington, D.C.-born, internationally recognized artist. His vast body of work spanned sculpture, painting, and poetry, and was marked by its expressiveness and uniquely creative approach to themes including the Hebrew Bible, immigration, and the human experience.

A graduate of the Pratt Institute and American University, Phillip began his career as an educator, teaching at Anacostia High School in Washington, D.C. and the Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School, before dedicating himself fully to his artistic practice. His works have been exhibited and collected by major institutions, including the Smithsonian, the United States Supreme Court, the Library of Congress, and the Vatican.

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, is a theme carried through much of his work.

The museum was founded in collaboration with his cousin, Dennis Ratner. Over a career spanning more than 60 years, Dennis has been recognized as a dynamic entrepreneur and inspiring leader, building the largest privately owned hair salon chain in the United States. Equally notable is his longstanding commitment to philanthropy, with a focus on supporting cultural institutions, education, and community-based initiatives.

As third-generation Washingtonians, Phillip and Dennis come from a family deeply rooted in music and the arts in Washington, with relatives among the founding members of the National Symphony Orchestra.

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.

Phillip passed away in 2023. Today, the Ratner Museum continues to honor his vision and artistic legacy while evolving as a space for community, education, and creative expression, reflecting the Ratner family's enduring commitment to the supporting arts.