Richard Marquis was first exposed to glassblowing while studying ceramics at the University of California at Berkeley. He received a BA in 1969 and an MA in 1972, studying under Marvin Lipofsky (glass) and Peter Voulkos (ceramics). While at UC Berkely, Marquis was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship in 1969 to travel to Murano, Italy, to observe and work with the highly skilled, traditional glassblowers at the Venini factory. He challenged himself with mastering the complex technique of murrine (fused canes and mosaics), a technique for which he is now best known. His work is usually polychrome and frequently humorous, and he often incorporates found objects. Richard Marquis has had an extraordinary influence on the development of contemporary studio glass in America and around the world. He has maintained an internationally known and respected studio practice in Washington State for over forty years, and has shared his knowledge and concepts generously at schools and workshops worldwide. He is admired for his sophisticated understanding of color and form as much as for his humor and willingness to experiment. As a skilled craftsman he has influenced an entire generation of artists working in glass who aspire to his technical mastery and the originality of his artistic voice.