David Edward Byrd (born April 4, 1941) is an American graphic artist, designer, illustrator and painter. Many of his designs are considered to have helped define the look of rock and roll music starting in the 1960s.[1] He is most well known for his poster designs, including his rock posters for the Fillmore East as well as his Broadway theatre posters.
In 1969, Byrd created the original poster for Woodstock, but as the festival was subsequently moved and Byrd (then on vacation on the Caribbean island of Saint Martin) could not be reached,[5] his original design went unused.[6]
From 1991 to 2002, Byrd was Senior Illustrator at Warner Brothers Creative Services, creating illustrations, backgrounds and style guides for all the Looney Tunes and Hanna–Barbera characters. His other tasks included working with writer J. K. Rowling on the first three books to make a visual cornerstone for the Harry Potter films that were to follow.[7]
Gay Advocacy and Design
In 1976, Byrd illustrated the cover of the first edition of Christopher Street Magazine, the first gay literary magazine. From 1984 to 1986, he was Art Director of the national gay news magazine The Advocate.[8]
Personal life
In 1985, David began Byrd/Beserra Studios, with his partner Jolino Beserra,[9] a noted Mosaic Artist.[10]