About Barking Pony Studios

We are a small event design business based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, female-owned and run by a small team of artists. Our team collaborates closely with event planners and designers to create stunning centerpieces, ceiling treatments, tent treatments, and other eye-catching decors. We work hard to provide designs that enhance your space, captivate your audience, and add to the memorability of your event. We take pride in providing services that meet the unique needs of each client, which is why we specialize in creating custom designs that are tailored specifically to your event. When you choose us, you can rest assured that you will receive a truly personalized and one-of-a-kind experience from start to finish.

Meet the owners…

Kathy Maersch &

Jon Murrish

Jon Murrish, whose father was an engineer for NASA, takes care of all the building and engineering to carry out design plans. He has the know-how and expertise to fabricate any structure with expert precision. Together they form the perfect team to bring visions into reality.

Kathy Maersch started the business Barking Pony Studios in the 1980s after working for a Milwaukee-based design studio where she participated in large projects like handcrafted parade floats and large-scale holiday decorations. Her creative interest and experience have roots in her early childhood, where she created window displays and learned to sew with her grandmother. She decided to start her own business and began working with her husband Jon Murrish.

Behind the Scenes

On location…

Or at the shop!

We often get asked, where did the name Barking Pony come from?

Jon and Kathy named the business after their dog Elway, who was affectionately nicknamed “pony”. Elway liked to assist Kathy in her studio, and was as large as a horse. As Elway has sadly passed on, there have been a few more ponies that help out at the shop!

Check out our Projects