Description
A vivid, symmetrical composition rendered in Byrd’s unmistakable Art Nouveau–inflected psychedelic style, the poster is dominated by a radiant, vertical architecture of color. Saturated bands of orange, red, and electric blue frame a central field of text, crowned by a stylized “Fillmore” marquee that reads like a luminous proscenium. Flanking the typography, two elongated, mirrored female figures—ornamental and statuesque—anchor the design, their patterned garments and flowing hair echoing the sinuous linework of turn-of-the-century poster art. The lettering itself becomes graphic ornament, cascading in carefully tiered hierarchy to list the legendary performers, with “Santana” and “The Grateful Dead” commanding the visual center.
Created for the 1972 documentary chronicling the final concerts at Fillmore West, Byrd’s design bridges late-1960s counterculture aesthetics with a more refined, historically referential visual language. His approach draws directly from Alphonse Mucha and Viennese Secessionist precedents, yet is electrified by the chromatic intensity and typographic experimentation of the psychedelic era. Unlike earlier Fillmore posters rooted in improvisational lettering, this composition is controlled, architectural, and overtly decorative—marking a mature phase in Byrd’s output and elevating the concert poster into a consciously art-historical object.
As both a film poster and a document of one of rock’s most mythologized venues, the piece carries layered cultural significance. Its association with Bill Graham’s final Fillmore West concerts and its authorship by Byrd—among the most celebrated designers of the period—position it as a highly desirable crossover work for collectors of both music and graphic design.
Condition
Professionally acid-free archival linen-backed with original theater fold lines expertly restored. Very good to excellent condition, with only minor age wear at the edges and handling consistent with vintage exhibition use. Colors remain strong and vibrant, with no notable fading.
Authentication
This poster is guaranteed authentic.
Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity.
Issued by an IVPDA-certified dealer.
David Edward Byrd (1941 – 2025)
Date:1972
Size:27″ X 41″
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