Political Posters

The “All Of Us Or None” (AOUON) archive project was started by Free Speech Movement activist Michael Rossman in 1977 to gather and document posters of modern progressive movements in the United States. Though some early works are included, its focus is on the domestic political poster renaissance that began in 1965 and continues to this day. When Rossman died May 12, 2008 his family donated the collection to the Oakland Museum of California. More …

The Archive gathered posters from all streams of progressive activity — from movements of protest, liberation, and affirmative action, trade union and community struggles, to electoral and environmental organizing, community services, and visionary manifestos. It is strongest in work from the San Francisco Bay Area, but its scope is national: approximately one-quarter of its holdings come from out of state, primarily New York City, Boston, Chicago, and Washington, D.C. These are complemented by a representation of international work. The collection consists of approximately 24,500 distinct titles.

The collection includes examples from well-known graphic artists including Malaquías Montoya, Emory Douglas, Rachael Romero, Rupert Garcia, Yolanda Lopez, Favianna Rodriguez, Carlos Cortez, Nancy Hom, Juan Fuentes, and Jos Sances, as well as material from seminal collective workshops such as La Raza Silkscreen, the Royal Chicano Air Force, Japantown Art and Media, Kearny Street Workshop, and Inkworks Press. Perhaps more important, the depth and breadth of the collection reveals the contribution of numerous lesser known or even anonymous artists whose cumulative impact on this democratic public art form has yet to be properly understood.

The cataloging of the AOUON Archive was made possible by a generous grant from the Stephen M. Silberstein Foundation.

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Wanted Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has black ink printed on beige paper. At the top is "Wanted / for war crimes / Ronald Wilson Reagan / also known as President of the United States" followed by a black and white photo of a...	Wanted for International Terrorism Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has black ink printed on whtie paper. At the top is "Wanted / For International / Terrorism" followed by a fabricated mug shot of Ronald Reagan. Below the image is "Ronald ''Guns-For-Drugs...
untitled (figures with guns) Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has a black and white photo of three figures holding guns and standing in front of a car.	The Great Communicator Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has black ink printed on white paper. At the left is a wrinkled face of a man with a speech bubble at the right. In the bubble is a stylized image of an mushroom cloud. At the top right is...
Kennedy Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has a black and white photo of John F. Kennedy with "Kennedy" at the top in red and blue.	Lies Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has black ink printed on white paper. At the left is a photo of John F. Kennedy holding a gun. At the top left of the image is "Lies". At the bottom left of the image is text about Lee...
Vote Yes on Proposition N Waller Press 1980 Poster printed on white paper. At the top is "the neighborhoods / stike back!" in black followed by a stylized image of Darth Vader with "Downtown Empire" on his chest stepping on a pile of humans...	I Say No Inkworks Press 2004 Poster has red and black ink printed on white paper. At the top is a strip of black with the text "No Way! No How! No More! Just No! / No To The Bush Agenda / NYC 2004 Republican National...
Kennedy 1962 Poster has black ink printed on white paper. At the top is "Kennedy / The First Year - A Critical Appraisal". At the center are two columns of text with presentations names at the left and the...	People's Convention Inkworks Press, printer 1984 Poster has a brown printed background. At the top is "Make Our Voices Heard!" in white followed by a white oval with green stylized figures inside. At the bottom of the poster is "People''s...
We're Rich and You're Not 1992 Poster printed on yellowing paper. At the top is a blue dotted image of a man in a suit with his index finger in the air. A button overlaid on his lapel reads "I''m / A / Riot". At the top is "We...	untitled (concert in Berkeley) 2004 Poster has a red printed background. At the top is "entertaining the students of uc berkeley / Superbb & Punk Voter / Present" in black and white. At the center is a list of performers. At the...
Thief of Baghdad Inkworks Press, printer 2004 Poster has a red, orange, black and yellow image of a figure in a head covering standing with his hands on his hips in front of a burning city with helicopters flying overhead. The face of George...	The Most Important DVD in Election History 2005 Poster has a patriotic red, white, and blue background. At the top is "The Most Important DVD / In Election History" in white. At the left is the DVD box for the Daily Show with Jon Stewart "...
You Can't Spell War Without Dub'yah Inkworks Press, printer 2004 Poster printed on white paper. At the top is "you can''t / spell war / without / dub''yah." in black. At the bottom is a stylized image of George W. Bush, with a puffy face.	The War on Terror: It's a Dirty Job 2004 Laminated poster has white unprinted edges enclosing a black printed background. At the top is "Metrospy" in white and a flaming circle with a gray skeletal US soldier at the center. Arched to the...
Republicans from Outer Space 2003 Poster has white unprinted edges enclosing a black background with white dotted stars and a central white circle. At the top is "They Came from Another Dimension to Plunder Planet Earth! /...	Bands Against Bush Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has blackink printed on bright pink paper. At the top is "Bay Area Arts / Collective / Presents / Hip-Hop / ''Bands Against Bush'' / with an appearance from presidential / candidate Dennis...
The World Can't Wait: Drive Out the Bush Regime Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster printed on white paper. At the top is a black background with a stylized image of the world on fire at the top center. To the left and right of the image is "The / World / Can''t / Wait"...	El Mundo No Puede Esperar Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has a green printed background. At the top of the poster are three circular, black and white logos - a globe, a hand with a slash through it, and an exclamation point. Black text on the...
El Mundo No Puede Esperar Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has white unprinted edges enclosing a green printed background. At the top right of the poster are three circular, black and white logos - a globe, a hand with a slash through it, and an...	Work to Beat Bush This Summer Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster printed on white paper with a red and blue background radiating from the words "Work To / Beat / Bush / This Summer" at the top of the poster. At the bottom of the poster is "Grassroots...
Behind Every Terrorist There is a Bush 2004 Poster has a red graphic printed background. At the top is "a benefit for the Inernational Inquiry into 9-11 / Behind Every Terrorist / There Is A Bush / an evening of comedy, music, / a...	Wanted for Mass Murder: The Bush Regime 2005 Poster has off-white unprinted edges enclosing a black background with white text and black and white photos. At the top is "Wanted / For Mass Murder" followed by fabricated headshots of President...