Esther M. Marquis

Costume Designers Guild, I.A.T.S.E. 892
United Scenic Artist, I.A.T.S.E. 829

Esther Marquis acquired her initial design training in Perth, Western Australia before moving to the United States. She received a BFA from Boston University graduating Summa Cum Laude, followed by an MFA. She relocated to Austin, Texas to take up a design assistant position with award winning theater Costume Designer, Susan Tsu.

Having worked primarily in theater for 13 years Esther made the shift to film and television. Prior to her role as Costume Designer, Marquis worked with renowned filmmaker Terrence Malick and Costume Designer Jackie West on the celebrated film Tree of Life. 

Marquis’s designs have graced the stages of numerous American Theater venues.  Most notably the Alley Theater’s Tony Award winning season of 1996-1997,  with the critically acclaimed In The Jungle of Cities and Steve Martins comedy Picasso at the Lapin-Agile.

Marquis has designed numerous museum installations for the culturally significant Atturaif District in ad Dir’iyah. This UNESCO World Heritage site is a carefully restored 17th century city on the banks of the Wadi Hanifah, situated in the central Arabian Peninsular. The ancient city was transformed into a collection of world-class museums. Specific gallery exhibits under her direction includes the imposing Salwa Palace, featuring the Royal Men’s and Women’s clothing exhibit; the Arabian Horse Museum, for which she designed Arabian saddles, bridle and Horseman attire; and the Daily Life Museum. 

Marquis has also partnered with classical realist painter, Graydon Parish. The collaboration resulted in the painting, Interlude (Young Women at Door). The garment she designed and made for this painting was acquired by the University of Texas - Harry Ransom Center, an archive library and museum specializing in the collection of literary and cultural artifacts from the United States. 

In addition to her design work, Marquis held a teaching position in the Department of Theater and Dance at The University of Texas. Instructing a graduate course in Costume Design and overseeing student productions.