A Kansas native from the small farming community of Lancaster, Rathert draws inspiration from
her formative years, crafting narratives that reflect life on the farm, the passage of time, and the
endurance of tradition. Through cast iron, fabric, found objects, and installation, Rathert
reinterprets childhood memories and everyday experiences, inviting audiences to explore themes
of nostalgia, resilience, and identity.

"The purpose of this artwork is to give permanence to memory and provide viewers with the
opportunity to encounter moments from my life that have shaped me," Rathert explains.
"Whether they find commonalities within the experience or feel a longing for their own sense of
home, the viewer joins me on a journey back."

Blending humor with poignant reflections, Rathert’s work blurs the boundaries between gender
norms, rural tradition, and storytelling. Her pieces transform the mundane into the extraordinary,
using meticulous materials and processes—including cast metals and smithed steel—to create
objects that honor blue-collar resilience and Midwestern aesthetics.

Rathert holds an MFA from the University of Mississippi and serves as an Instructional
Associate Professor in Sculpture at the same institution. Beyond academia, she has a passion for
quilting, sourdough, collecting antique irons, hikes with her cattle dog Mabel, escapes to the
farm, and taking the long way home.

This exhibition is made possible through generous sponsorship from the Darrell Schmitt Trust,
Adair Exchange Foundation, and Cloud L. Cray Foundation.