Ilona Vágvölgyi was born in Felsőgöd in 1940 and obtained her degree at Budapest's Academy of Arts and Crafts in 1964. She first signed with the Déryné State Theatre, and later worked as a costume designer for the Jókai Theatre of Békés County (1968-1975), the National Theatre of Szeged (1975-1982), and for the Hevesi Sándor Theatre in Zalaegerszeg (1982-). Her work is marked by stylistic confidence, a sense of fantasy, and a flexible use of materials and techniques. At the Opera House, she designed the costumes for Puccini's Madama Butterfly (2000).