Steve Rucker was a sculptor and painter specializing in creating imaginative installations. Originally from southeast Tennessee, Rucker has stated, “My work is directly inspired by the Southern landscape, the work of visionary outsiders, agriculture, social and environmental ironies, and any music with a good beat.” Steve Rucker had a solid connection to the crafts tradition, particularly the making of ceramics. His sculptures, paintings, and installations became increasingly narrative usually conveying a penetrating look at what the artist terms “this land of plenty.”