Grandson of Jewish immigrants, Phillip Ratner considered himself a “narrator in art,” and he died on November 9 at the age of 86 in his Bethesda, Maryland, home. His family stated that a neurological disorder was the cause.
Ratner, a well-known artist throughout the world, experimented with a variety of media, including painting, sculpture, etched glass, tapestry, and drawing. His artistic pursuits were mostly directed towards encapsulating the poignant experience of immigration.
Who is Phillip Ratner?
Phillip Ratner, a grandson of Jewish immigrants and a self-proclaimed “narrator in art,” passed away on November 9 at the age of 86 in his Bethesda, Maryland, home. Renowned globally, Ratner was a versatile artist, venturing into various mediums such as sculpture, painting, etched glass, tapestry, and drawing. His artistic endeavors were primarily focused on capturing the poignant immigrant experience.
Ratner’s sculptures, numbering in the dozens, have left an indelible mark on the millions of visitors who annually explore the grounds of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. These artworks not only welcome newcomers to Ellis Island but also grace the vicinity of the Statue of Liberty and find a distinguished place at the Supreme Court.
One of Ratner’s notable contributions to the preservation of American immigration history occurred in 2001, when he undertook the creation of a collection as part of the Department of Interior’s initiative to restore Ellis Island. This collection, comprised of exquisite bronze statues, serves as a profound representation of the immigrant journey to America.
The 41 sculptures within the assortment vividly depict families arriving on the shores of the United States, often with nothing more than a few suitcases to their name.
Phillip Ratner’s Career Journey
Furthermore, Ratner’s artistic prowess extends to an additional five sculptures situated on the Statue of Liberty’s grounds. These sculptures pay homage to the founders instrumental in bringing the iconic statue to life—Frederic Auguste Bartholdi, Alexandre Gustave Eiffel, Edouard René de Laboulaye, Emma Lazarus, and Joseph Pulitzer.
In addition to commemorating the immigrant experience, Phillip Ratner’s rich body of work greatly adds to the visual narrative of America’s historical landmarks. His legacy as an artist and storyteller continues to this day.
Ratner has created art in many different media, such as painting, sculpture, tapestry, etched glass, drawing, and graphic arts. Stories from the Hebrew Bible, also referred to as the Old Testament by Christians, are the main subject of the artist’s artwork.
Ratner recalls, “I went off to Hebrew School when I was a little kid.” “The moment I heard the stories, I fell in love with them.” Since “everything was created for the museum on the same subject,” Ratner’s artistic passion has given the collection of the museum a unique, focused appeal that is uncommon for small museums.
The permanent collections of the White House, the Library of Congress, and the Smithsonian include some of Ratner’s most widely exhibited works of art.
For many years, Mr. Ratner was employed in the Washington region. He had a studio downtown and taught individual sculpture classes to people like Chief Justice Warren E. Burger. Among the organizations that gathered Mr. Ratner’s work were the Smithsonian, the Supreme Court, and the Library of Congress. He created a panda sculpture that was on display at the National Zoo.
What happened to Phillip Ratner?
Grandson of Jewish immigrants, Phillip Ratner considered himself a “narrator in art,” and he died on November 9 at the age of 86 in his Bethesda, Maryland, home. His family stated that a neurological disorder was the cause.
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