PHILADELPHIA, PA.- The National Museum of American Jewish History has recently acquired a series of sculptures by artist Phillip Ratner that bring to life the immigrant experience in America. Ten sculptures represent the millions of immigrants who passed through Ellis Island between 1892 and 1954. Approximately 24 inches tall, these works were created in the early 1980s and cast with metal from the interior of the Statue of Liberty following its renovation. They are the original models for Ratner’s larger sculptures that have been on display on the grounds of the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration since 1990. Additionally, NMAJH acquired Ratner’s 2017 sculpture of Emma Lazarus, whose well-known sonnet “The New Colossus” is engraved on the Statue of Liberty’s pedestal. The newly-acquired sculptures can be viewed on NMAJH’s free-of-charge first floor and at the entrance to the third floor “Dreams of Freedom” gallery.

Ivy Barsky, NMAJH’s CEO and Gwen Goodman Director, says, “We are incredibly appreciative that Phillip Ratner chose NMAJH as the home for these sculptures. Not only do these artworks capture the spirit of those who bravely journeyed to our shores at the turn of the century, but they will also resonate with more recent arrivals to this country.”

“Telling the story of my grandparents coming to this country and making it their home—a story that connects many Americans—is a passion of mine,” shares Phillip Ratner. “I am thrilled to see these works on view at NMAJH, especially at a time when our nation’s stance on immigration is a constant news headline.”

Ratner was inspired to create the Ellis Island Immigrants series, in part, by old photographs of his grandparents, all of whom emigrated from Ukraine to the United States. He intended to present the reality of the condition in which people arrived to Ellis Island in the thousands every day. The immigrant sculptures portray a range of people, from a working man to a huddled family of four to a young couple, for which Ratner’s grandparents provided the model. Ratner intentionally softened the details of the immigrants’ faces so that the individuals may represent a variety of backgrounds and nationalities.

A graduate of the Pratt Institute and longtime teacher in the Washington, D.C. area, Ratner works in sculpture, painting, etched glass, tapestry, drawing, and the graphic arts. His work is included in numerous permanent collections, including the Smithsonian Institution, the United States Supreme Court, and the Library of Congress.

The Ellis Island Immigrants series has been generously donated by Phillip Ratner. Emma Lazarus is a gift of Barbara and Dennis Davison.