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HomeEntertainmentDavid Edward Byrd, Iconic Psychedelic Poster Artist, Passes Away At 83

David Edward Byrd, Iconic Psychedelic Poster Artist, Passes Away At 83

Los Angeles (California) [US], February 5: David Edward Byrd, the renowned artist behind psychedelic posters for legendary rock bands like Jimi Hendrix, The Who, and The Grateful Dead, has passed away at the age of 83. Byrd died on Monday at a hospital in Albuquerque, New Mexico, after being diagnosed with pneumonia. His partner of 40 years, Jolino Beserra, confirmed his death through a post on Facebook.

Byrd was a prominent figure in pop culture, creating iconic artwork for rock bands, Broadway productions, and more. He worked closely with rock promoter Bill Graham for the Fillmore East in New York and designed a poster for the original Woodstock festival, although the design was not used after the event was moved. His contributions to music and theater include creating posters for The Rolling Stones’ 1969 U.S. tour, The Who’s Tommy rock opera at the Metropolitan Opera House in 1971, and album covers such as Lou Reed’s Sally Can’t Dance in 1974.

Beyond rock bands, Byrd’s work extended to artists like Janis Joplin, Frank Zappa, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Prince, and Van Halen. His Broadway poster designs included Follies, Godspell, Jesus Christ Superstar, and Little Shop of Horrors, as well as other works like Murder Among Friends and The Grand Tour.

Born on April 4, 1941, in Cleveland, Tennessee, Byrd grew up in Miami Beach, Florida. He earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Carnegie-Mellon University and went on to teach art at the Pratt Institute in New York for 12 years. Later, Byrd moved to Los Angeles, where he continued to create artwork for prominent theaters such as the Mark Taper Forum and Pasadena Playhouse. He also worked as an illustrator for Warner Bros. and collaborated with Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling on visual designs for the Harry Potter films.

In 2023, a collection of his work was published in the book Poster Child: The Psychedelic Art & Technicolor Life of David Edward Byrd, celebrating his significant contributions to art and pop culture.

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