The birth of the Phillips Collection originated from the vision of art critic Duncan Phillips. In 1921, he transformed his family mansion into a museum, initially displaying only 600 private collections, but soon opened to the public, becoming a pioneer in the collection of modern art in the United States. The museum building itself is a history of art: the main body is a red brick mansion built in 1897, and later expanded into three branches, which not only retains the historical charm but also incorporates modern design.

The collection in the museum is centered on European Impressionism and 20th century American modern art, covering masterpieces by masters such as Van Gogh, Cézanne, Renoir, Degas, Picasso, and Matisse. As an oil painter, Marjorie Acker, the wife of Duncan Phillips, has a profound influence on the direction of the museum's collection, which has gradually expanded from Impressionism to the field of modern art. In 2006, the museum established the Center for Contemporary Art Research to further promote the dialogue between art and the times.