January 2026 | Issue No. 68

Welcome to my January 2026 newsletter, thank you for joining me here again as we enter this new cycle. New Years always brings with it a chance to reflect on what we've accomplished, and visualize how our goals will take shape for the next spin around the sun. Last month, I shared a little about one of my favorite Albuquerque creatives; a long time friend and source of inspiration and joy. To start the new year off, I wanted to keep the creative flow, well flowing. What's better than to start the new year with some fresh inspiration?! You're sure to get that, and more, from the journeys of these amazing and wildly talented artists, and dear friends. 

 

There are people you know for years, and then there are those you have the privilege of knowing for a much shorter span of time, yet their influence and spirit shifts and shapes you in ways you never expected. This is true of the next two inspirational people I want to highlight and share. I met David and Jolino in 2024 through mutual friends. They were relocating to Albuquerque from Los Angeles, and I had the honor of helping them find the sweetest home. One with just the right amount of charm and potential to hold their creative dreams…because these weren’t just any buyers. David was a famed Graphic Artist behind some of the most iconic poster art in modern history. Jolino, a renowned Mosaic Artist celebrated for his color, texture, and heart. Both were overflowing with kindness, humility, and that unmistakable creative spark that makes you want to sit and listen for hours. Their “pack” included five rescue pups (each one a character). Their lives had been filled with many elderly rescues over the years; a tender testament to their compassion and commitment to animal rescue and support. It didn’t take long for me to realize that they were far more than customers searching for the perfect home. I knew, almost instantly, that we would become friends.

David Edward Byrd is widely recognized as one of the most iconic poster artists of the rock era. His work defined the visual identity of live music in the late 1960-70s, with legendary posters created for artists including Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd, The Beach Boys, Linda Ronstadt, and many more. His instantly recognizable style: bold typography, surreal imagery, and theatrical composition didn’t just advertise concerts, it set the mood for an entire cultural movement. Today, his work lives on in major museum collections, private archives, and the hands of collectors around the world.

 

Jolino Beserra’s creative journey follows a different, yet beautifully complementary arc. An accomplished graphic designer and art director, Jolino built a career in high-level advertising and visual communications, creating work for major brands, networks, and media platforms. His background spans broadcast design, branding, advertising campaigns, and conceptual development. A masterclass in clarity, storytelling, and precision. Over the last two decades, Jolino has become renowned for his mosaic work that transforms reclaimed and thoughtfully chosen raw materials into striking compositions. David’s work captures the electricity of live performance, Jolino’s design sensibility brings experience layered with intention and meaning. 

After years immersed in the pace and intensity of Los Angeles, Jolino and David chose Albuquerque not as a retreat, but as a recalibration.

New Mexico has long been a magnet for artists, drawn by its light, landscape, cultural depth, and space to think. Here, creativity isn’t crowded. It’s given room to breathe. Albuquerque offers a slower rhythm without sacrificing artistic community, and a deep appreciation for craft, history, and individuality. Space to work with intention, and to collect inspiration from desert skies instead of traffic. To engage with a community that values authenticity and artistry over trend cycles.

David Edward Byrd was born in 1941, came of age creatively in the mid-1960s, by 1968 had already made history with his famed Jimi Hendrix Experience poster, an iconic work that now lives in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in NYC. One of those rare, extraordinary people whose talent is so undeniable, so singular, that it becomes both legendary and timeless.  Over the course of five decades, David’s work helped shape the visual language of an era. He collaborated with some of the most influential musicians in modern history: The Rolling Stones, The Who, The Grateful Dead, David Bowie, Prince… just to name a few. He even designed the original poster for the Woodstock Festival (even though it ultimately went unused when the venue changed locations). His artistic reach extended far beyond music, too; from Broadway productions to Warner Bros, David’s hand appears in innumerable corners of American pop culture. David didn't just document music history, he shaped how it looked. 

Today, his work hangs in private collections and museums across the globe, an enduring legacy that feels almost bigger than life itself. Artist. Teacher. Visionary. Writer. Pioneer. David embodied all of these roles with grace and curiosity. In 2024, he released a retrospective art book, Poster Child: The Psychedelic Art & Technicolor Life of David Edward Byrd, a vibrant testament to a life spent pushing boundaries and coloring the world in ways only he could imagine.

Jolino Beserra grew up in California and graduated with a degree in Illustration in 1982, originally envisioning a path in the entertainment industry. Jolino's early creative career was rooted in graphic design, advertising, and broadcast media, where his work reached millions, often without the viewer ever realizing the hand behind it. Over the years, he built an accomplished career designing for major tv networks, advertising agencies, and production studios, creating everything from branding systems and promotional campaigns to motion graphics and visual identities. But, as it often does for true artists, life and art had other plans. Inspired by Oaxacan folk art and guided by a reconnection to his Latin and Native American heritage, Jolino discovered his truest calling in the magical intersection of decoration and architecture. 

Since 2006, Jolino has devoted himself to creating stunning mosaic installations, each one a radiant merging of color, story, and place. His mosaic work turns everyday fragments-tile, glass and found objects-into vibrant storyscapes that reflect patience, precision and reverence for process. Often exploring themes of movement, nature, symbolism and human connection, his work combines design with storytelling. Deeply rooted in craftsmanship, every shard, color choice and texture is intentional, resulting in work that feels both architectural and intimate. His  work has found homes in private residences, public parks, libraries, businesses, and community spaces. Each installation transforming its environment with a sense of wonder and cultural resonance. In 2016, his extraordinary large-scale climbing tunnel and slide in a California park earned him the Best In Situ Prize at the Arts International competition, a testament to his vision and the joy his work brings to others. Jolino’s art is more than craft. It is connection, heritage, and heart made visible. Since relocating to Albuquerque, he has found inspiration in New Mexico's light, landscapes, and creative community. The textures, history and sense of place naturally complement his chosen medium. His work feels right at home here. Authentic. Soulful. Quietly powerful. 

Jolino and David's creative worlds seamlessly intersected in an enduring  partnership. They are the rare kind of artists whose individual paths are impressive on their own, but together they form a living archive of American graphic design, music history and visual culture. Both storytellers who understand how art communicates emotion before words ever appear. And both bring decades of experience translating ideas into imagery that resonates; whether that’s a poster that stops someone in their tracks or a brand identity that quietly builds trust over time.

 

Together, their story is one of visual storytelling across generations, industries, and mediums. David and Jolino spent more than four decades together; a portrait of dedication, artistry, adventure, and a life fully-lived. Over the years, they created Byrd/Beserra Studios and collaborated across multiple creative fields, from freelance illustration to photography to advertising. In their shared studio practice, those perspectives informed one another. But more than any single project or studio milestone, what defined them was the way they supported each other. Steadfastly, quietly, and with immense love. In art and in life, they were each other’s greatest champions. David's fearless creativity inspired and held space for Jolino.   As I got to know them, I was truly struck by how humble, gentle, and deeply kind they both were, despite careers touched by fame and spotlight. They were pure artists at heart, driven not by ego or recognition, but by a singular desire to cast as much beauty into the world as they could. No pretense. No superiority. Just gratitude. Generosity. Curiosity. And a genuine excitement for the next chapter of their journey, including a new homecoming in Albuquerque.

 

 Heartbreakingly, we lost David in early 2025.

If you are searching for the perfect gift for the music or art lover in your life…maybe a Valentine's gift, or sweet birthday surprise? For an unexpected and inspired gift perfect for anyone who has almost everything, you might consider one of David’s posters. This amazing opportunity keeps his extraordinary vision alive and blends the rare combination of not just giving a gift, but also a piece of cultural history. His artistry was truly timeless, and his posters capture the exact kind of nostalgia, vibrancy, and soul that so many of us are craving right now. The link below will take you to the catalog of available prints where you are sure to find your favorite musician.

Jolino is carrying forward the shared passion he and David had for supporting animals, something that was woven into the fabric of their lives together. He is partnering with Animal Humane NM to continue this work in meaningful ways. In 2025, he collaborated with them on a fundraiser featuring a commemorative design based on David’s artwork, originally created for animal causes in Los Angeles. Now lovingly repurposed to support local efforts here.

And the creativity doesn’t stop there. Jolino is also working on a mosaic project with Animal Humane, something I am incredibly excited to share more about in an upcoming newsletter.

We are starting the 2026 real estate market in Albuquerque with low inventory of homes for sale, so now is the perfect time to get in touch if you've been thinking about selling. February/March is the time to list! The Spring market is historically the most competitive market, and the best time to get your home in front of motivated buyers. Call me now to begin the process, I'd love to guide you through the journey and get your home sold. I can help with staging, pricing, negotiations, and much more. If you need assistance in clearing your home, or arranging an estate sale, before listing…let's talk.

As we ease into the new year, and the quiet winter days blur with the aftermath of the holidays, it always feels like a great time to plan something fun. Do you love a good game of trivia? As a special thank you, I'm hosting a Saturday Afternoon Trivia customer appreciation event on January 24th. You are invited to join us at La Reforma for a fun afternoon, perfect for dusting off your thinking cap. Enjoy a drink and tasty snacks, on me, while you test your knowledge with local favorite, trivia host Dan Dangerously. There will be prizes for the winning teams and swag bags for everyone who attends. Don't have a team, no worries! Come solo and be your own team or I can pair you with a team if you'd prefer, or bring family/friends for a team of up to 6 people. Festivities begin at 3pm, trivia starts at 3:30pm. This is a family friendly event and kids are welcome. Feel free to reach out to me with questions. I hope to see you there!

Thank you for joining me again this month. Are you feeling invigorated and ready to take on this new year, or moving slowly and intentionally into it? Do you know someone who helps make Albuquerque a vibrant and inspiring place to call home? I'd love to share their story in a future newsletter. Send me a message and tell me about them. If you own a local business, I'd love to feature you and hopefully connect you with new customers. Get in touch!

I hope to see you for trivia on the 24th!

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