He was born in Salzburg in 1967.
After graduating from high school, he studied at the International Summer Academy of Fine Arts in Salzburg in Prof. Luis Murschetz's caricature class. Alongside his studies in sinology and art history in Vienna, he worked on nude drawings and oil paintings, calligraphy, happenings and graffiti. Rucker restored and gilded works for the province of Salzburg in St. Gilgen with Augustin Kloiber. This was followed by study and work stays in Bali, New York and Rome.
From 1998 to 2002, he received commissions for mosaics and murals. The artist received his fresco training at San Servolo in Venice and was subsequently commissioned to paint frescoes in Salzburg.
Thomas Rucker was a guest lecturer at the Bosporus University in Istanbul and took part in various gardening projects as an artist in Vienna and Salzburg.
He has been a member of the Graz Secession since 2003.
Illuminism, the incidence of light in the background of a picture that affects a plant or a tree, is the basis on which Rucker works in various artistic techniques. He also makes reference to the play of light and color in medieval cathedral architecture.