By Natalie Taylor
Barry Zaid was born and grew up in Toronto, Canada, and studied Art and Archeology at college. In 1960 he drove through Mexico with a few college friends. They stopped in San Miguel de Allende, and Barry was enchanted by the city. Years later, a friend with whom he corresponded for decades, returned all his letters before she died. Among these was a letter from 1960—his first impression of San Miguel: “The most everything place I’ve ever seen.”
Barry’s artistic talents were recognized early. In high school, he designed posters for a theater company and continued earning money throughout college doing the same. One of his teachers, understanding the difficulties of being gay in Toronto in those years, sent Barry off to London, paying for his fare on a ship and giving him the name of a friend with a graphic design company. He was hired immediately and found a good agent who provided him with many important jobs—the design of the first album cover for the Beatles, many posters for upcoming concerts of some of the major musicians like Pink Floyd, and others. But the weather in London was depressing and Barry took time off to travel all over Europe and eventually settled in Greece for a number of years. Eventually, he came to New York City where a friend suggested he visit Push Pin Studios, a major and innovative graphic design company, and he was hired on the spot. He spent 6 years in New York working for them, during which time he toured Europe and Asia with their global exhibitions and his works.
In 1975 Barry became interested in Yoga philosophy, became vegetarian, and took time off to visit India. Back in his native Canada, he taught graphic design at the Virginia Commonwealth University for two years. During those years he designed covers for Kleenex, Celestial Seasonings teas, and others. Celestial Seasonings offered him a job in Boulder, Colorado, as director of design, and he moved there. Alice Sperling became his agent, and through her, he met another one of her clients—Merle Peek. When Alice moved to San Miguel de Allende, joining her sister who was already there, Merle decided to move there as well. They travelled to San Miguel to visit Alice and once here, Barry decided this was the perfect spot to move to. He and Merle rented a house together at the start and then eventually each moved to his own space. In San Miguel, Barry has dedicated much of his time doing historical tours for Patronato Pro Niños—until COVID-19 stopped those activities. He is getting ready to do a major exhibit of his works in the near future. This will be an opportunity for San Miguel to see wonderful posters, collages, and other works by someone who has been recognized globally as a great artist. After living here for many years, Barry still believes San Miguel de Allende is the most “everything place” in the world.
