Jolino Beserra and David Edward Byrd

David on the farm in his first party dress at age 8, Cleveland, TN, 1949.

David in front of his painting, a self-portrait in blues, at Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, 1963.

“Hippie Byrd” on the commune in Port Jervis, NY, 1968.

David’s pencil sketch of Jimi Hendrix, Port Jervis, NY, 1968.

David’s first show at Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, 1969.

David drawing and surrounded by artwork in his “Yellow Studio”, Chelsea, New York, NY, 1972.

A newspaper clipping featuring Jolino at age 16. His 1973 Christmas card design was purchased by actor Richard Boone.

Jolino’s Christmas card design titled “Children of the World”, Los Angeles, CA, 1973.

David’s 40th “Byrdthday” celebration when he and Jolino had been together for five months, Los Angeles, CA, 1982.

Jolino’s first published illustration (a Vogue cover) after graduating from the Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, CA, 1983.

Jolino’s “Sister Mary” letter to David, Los Angeles, CA, 1983.

David and Jolino, with their dogs Bernie and Joshua, moving into their first home in Beachwood Canyon, Los Angeles, CA, 1986.

David’s “Tank Watch” letter to Jolino on his 30th birthday, Los Angeles, CA, 1987.

David and Jolino celebrating their tenth anniversary in Montreuil-sur-Mer, France, 1991.

The cover and inside of the Metropolitan Home Magazine’s Winners Issue, which features an article titled “Salsa Cocina: Joe Lino Beserra, Hollywood, CA”, February 1992. The featured photos include Jolino, David, and their dogs smiling outside their Beachwood Canyon home, and their bright kitchen.

A watercolor portrait of Jolino and David, painted by David Byrd, Los Angeles, CA, 1994.

Jolino’s 40th birthday celebration when he and David had been together for sixteen years, Los Angeles, CA, 1997.

Jolino working on a Children’s Room mosaic commission for the Alhambra Public Library, Alhambra, CA, circa 2007.

Jolino atop an orange ladder, creating a mosaic at the Camarillo Public Library, Camarillo, CA, 2007.

Jolino and David, working on a Children’s Room mosaic commission, in the artist’s studio of the Alhambra Public Library Alhambra, CA, circa 2007.

David and Jolino next to Jolino’s commissioned mosaic for the Children’s Room at the Alhambra Public Library, Alhambra, CA, 2008.

A portrait of David posing with the original Broadway cast album of Follies for the William Ellis OneLP Portraits, Los Angeles, CA, circa 2008. Ellis’ photo series “explores the inspirational qualities of recordings and the impact that they have on people’s lives.”

A portrait of Jolino posing with Elton John’s Captain Fantastic/& Brown Dirt Cowboy for the William Ellis OneLP Portraits, Los Angeles, CA, circa 2008. Ellis’ photo series “explores the inspirational qualities of recordings and the impact that they have on people’s lives.”

A portrait of David and Jolino for the William Ellis OneLP Portraits, Los Angeles, CA, circa 2008. Ellis’ photo series “explores the inspirational qualities of recordings and the impact that they have on people’s lives.”

David behind the Woodstock site plaque, 2009.

David and Jolino during their “glamorous wedding at City Hall”, Long Beach, CA, July 9th, 2013. Jolino shares, “This was set the day after Governor Jerry Brown said there was no need to wait the 30 days from when [gay marriage] was declared federal law. We were together for 31 years by this time, so I sometimes can’t remember our wedding date. We mostly celebrate on November 12, 1981, which was our first date.”

Jolino atop his dragon fabrication at Benito Juárez Park, Maywood, CA, 2013.

Jolino atop his finished mosaic dragon at Benito Juárez Park, Maywood, CA, 2013.

Jolino creating his mosaic dragon at Benito Juárez Park, Maywood, CA, 2013.

David at the Autry Museum of the American West, Los Angeles, CA, 2014.

Jolino and David at the El Sereno Park opening, Los Angeles, CA.

David and Jolino outside the Natural History Museum, Los Angeles, CA, 2014.

Jolino atop his “work-in progress”, another mosaic dragon, 2014.

Jolino and children during his artist’s residency, 2015.

Jolino with his dogs in front of a mural that reads, “Stand Here and Think About Someone You Love!”, Silver Lake, Los Angeles, CA, 2016.

Jolino with Angylene holding a Hot Pink magazine, 2016.

David and Jolino tabling at the Rock Poster Society Show, 2017.

David and Jolino kissing at the Rock Poster Society Show, 2017.

Jolino and David at the GRAMMY Museum L.A. Live, Los Angeles, CA, 2018.

Jolino and David at the Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles, CA, 2018.

David and Pete Townshend singing a poster, 2018.

Jolino and his childhood friends (since age 5).

Jolino holding signs that read, “Speak for Those Who Have No Voice: Stop Animal Cruelty” and “Fur”, 2018.

Jolino mimicking the statue of a woman in a pink suit, the Broad, Los Angeles, CA, 2019.

David and Jolino in the Netherlands, 2019.

David and Jolino at a couples show in Long Beach, CA.

Jolino and David in Amsterdam, Netherlands, 2019.

David and Jolino taking a selfie in a reflective building, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 2019.

Jolino and David in front of a sign that reads “Run”, the Broad, Los Angeles, CA, 2019.

Jolino and David in front of signs that read “Dog” and “Run”, the Broad, Los Angeles, CA, 2019.

David and Jolino’s dogs, which they affectionately call “our pack”, 2020.

A black-and-white 40th anniversary portrait of Jolino and David with their dog.

Jolino hugging David on their 40th anniversary.

David Edward Byrd was born on August 4, 1941 in Cleveland, Tennessee. His parents split up promptly afterwards, so David grew up spending his school years with his mother and wealthy stepfather in Miami, with summers in his father’s Cleveland farmhouse. In Miami, his mother and stepfather hosted wild parties, and David was expected to either bartend or stay out of the way. Consequently, David threw himself into his academics and extracurriculars, such as drama. He excelled, but struggled with health problems due to stress.

David always knew he was gay, and had his first sexual experience with another boy at age 10. As he went on to study art at Carnegie Mellon, he continued to have sexual and romantic experiences with men. Upon graduation, he was hired to help create the set for Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. He later moved on to teaching art, then relocated to New York to help his friend with a light show business. There, he began illustrating posters, and was commissioned to create iconic posters for rock musicians such as Jefferson Airplane, Jimmy Hendrix, Traffic, Blue Cheer, Iron Butterfly, David Bowie, and Frank Zappa.

Jolino Beserra was born on January 28, 1957 in Los Angeles, California. His family was of Mexican descent, but Jolino’s father was very assimilationist and prohibited him from learning or speaking Spanish or connecting with his heritage. Jolino’s father was also physically abusive, making it difficult for Jolino to communicate openly with most of his family. Still, Jolino’s Aunt Terry and his 4th grade teacher Miss Tooey saw that he was interested in art, and they both encouraged him from a young age to pursue it. Jolino eventually attended art school in Pasadena.

From a young age, Jolino could see that he was not developing the same interest in girls as his male peers were. Quietly determined to hide his difference, he played football and dated cheerleaders throughout high school. In art school, Jolino was even engaged to a woman, planning to marry her so that people would not be able to see his difference. Everything changed when, in 1981, Jolino met David.

Jolino was secretly visiting a gay bar in Melrose and getting ready to leave when he saw David, and could not help but approach him. The two hit it off immediately — David had been in LA for a poster commission but decided to leave his life in New York behind for good. Jolino realized that he would need to begin living for who he was instead of trying to create a self to please others. Three months later, the two of them moved in together officially and have remained inseparable ever since.

Jolino and David met at the start of the AIDS crisis, and they saw many around them growing fearful and losing family. They joined the buddy program to provide companionship for people who were ill, and they participated in walks and marches despite getting hit and spit on for doing so.They were both touched to see the AIDS quilt come together in DC. They also grew close to people in the Mattachine Society and the Radical Faeries.

Both being artists, the couple has also supported one another in their careers. Over the years, they’ve worked in freelance illustrating, photography, and advertising. When Jolino stepped away from advertising, he discovered mosaic work, through which he has been reconnecting with his Mexican heritage. He has since then been commissioned to do work for public libraries and parks. David continues to design and sell posters successfully, and in 2023 publishes his book Poster Child. Jolino and David push one another to create their best pieces, but also both stress the importance of prioritizing their relationship throughout, and how crucial constant communication and care are in maintaining a happy, successful queer relationship. As they reflect, they smile — they describe themselves as “survivors” and feel “blissful” for having been with each other throughout.

Bio Author: Helen Tian

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