Esther "Esta" Nesbitt, born as Esther Feuerman (1918–1975), was an American illustrator, xerox artist, filmmaker, and educator. Between the 1940s until the 1960s, Nesbitt actively led a career as a fashion illustrator for leading magazines and newspapers including Harpers Bazaar, Mademoiselle, and the New York Times Magazine.^[1][2] In the 1960s she began experimenting with fine art, in multidisciplines and with xerox art.

Biography

Esther Feuerman was born 19 November 1918 in New York City, New York.^[2][3] Nesbitt studied at the Traphagen School of Fashion, graduating 1937 in Illustration, working primarily in fashion illustration.^[4] She continued her studies at Columbia University, and New York University (NYU).^[1]

She was married to designer and sculptor, Saul Nesbitt (1920–1993).^[5][6] Between 1964 until 1974, Nesbitt was a professor at the Parson’s School of Design.^[4]

Starting in the 1960s she started to experiment with fine art, and by 1966 she was exhibiting her art.^[1][2] In the 1960s and 1970s, Nesbitt was one of the earliest artists experimenting with xerox art.^[7] She invent three xerography techniques, named transcapsa, photo-transcapsa, and chromacapsa.^[7] Nesbitt worked closely with Anibal Ambert and Merle English at Xerox Corporation and the company sponsored her art research from 1970 until 1972.^[8]

She died on 30 November 1975 in New York City, New York.^[2]

Her work is featured in various public art museum and library collections including, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston,^[9] Brooklyn Museum,^[10] Archives of American Art,^[11] National Museum of American History,^[6] Digital Public Library of America,^[12] Smithsonian American Art Museum,^[3] Frances Neady collection at Fashion Institute of Technology,^[13] among others.