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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Exige El Respeto 1976 Poster printed on white paper with a central stylized image of and orange figure with her fist raised and a green figure below. At the left is an outline of South America filled with black text...	untitled (man in turban) Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has an orange printed background with an image of the face of a man with a beard wearing a turban. Below the man, brown and yellow hands extend upward. To the right of the man is black...
Vote No Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster printed on white paper. At the top is a blue background with "Vote / No" in white and black, with the "o" in "No" formed by a ring of stars. At the center is "to the / Treaty of Nice" in...	Stuff Your Loans East End Offset Ltd, printer Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has black ink printed on white paper with text reading "Socialist Worker Student Society / Thatcher, Baker / Stuff / Your / Loans! / Education / Is A Right".
Nossos Compromissos Com A Terra E Com A Vida Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster printed on white paper. On the left is a strip of camera film with color photos in each frame of plants, villages and classrooms. At the top right is "Nossos Compromissos / Com A Terra E...	untitled (working class in France) Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has red and black ink printed on white paper and is divided into 12 boxes positioned at various orientations to fit onto the poster. Each box has text about the working class in France and...
J.C.R. circa 1977 Poster has black and red ink printed on white paper. At the bottom right is "J.C.R. / Junta Coordinadora Revolucionaria" with a logo aand quote about revolutionary war in Latin America...	Women of the Commune 1871 Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has red and black ink printed on white paper. Vertically up the left edge is "Women Of The Commune 1871". At the center is a black and white illustration of 19th century women rallying,...
untitled (freedom) Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has red and black ink printed on white paper. Across the top is a quote by Marx - "The Practical Application Of The Right Of A Man To Freedom Is / The Right Of Private Property And Hence...	Mozambique Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has black and red ink printed on white paper. At the left is a photo of soldiers walking through tall grasses. At the bottom of the image is "Mozambique". On the right is a poem by Josina...
untitled (working class movement) Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has red and black ink printed on white paper with images of political figures, striking, a seal and a hand holding small bills. Text throughout the poster dicusses workers, wages, socialism...	Two Classes - Each United By One Interest Poster-Film Collective (UK) Circa 1974 Poster has red and black ink printed on white paper. At the top is "Two Classes - Each United By One Interest" followed by "The Capitalist Class In Increasing The / Exploitation...
Untitled Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has yellow and black ink printed on white paper. At the top right is "State Force Legitimized, Struggle Criminalized" followed by a quote about the duty of the state to establish law...	Capitalism Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has black and red ink printed on white paper. At the top is "Capitalism a system of exploitation of / the many by the few / Proletariat And Wealth Are Opposites. As Such They Form A Whole...
Russia 1917 Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has black and red ink printed on white paper. At the top left is a black and white photo of two smiling women. At the top right is "they come / from the machines / from the land and the...	The Social War is Avowedly Raging in England... Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has yellow and black ink printed on white paper. At the top is "The Social War Is Avowedly Raging In England And Where- / as It Is In The Interests Of The Bourgeoisie To Conduct / This War...
Economic Freedom Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has blue and orange ink printed on white paper. At the top is "Economic Freedom / For The Ruling Class" followed by a collage of dotted pictures of crowds. At the bottom is "Political...	The Crisis of Profitablity Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has black and orange ink printed on white paper. At the top is "The Crisis Of Profitability" followed by a stylized illustration of a jail line-up being used as a graph to illustrate...
The Motive Force of Capitalist Production is the Rate of Profit Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has black and yellow ink printed on white paper. At the top right is "The Motive Force Of / Capitalist Production / Is The Rate Of Profit" followed by more information on the rate of profit...	Untitled Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster with a collage of photographs of British politicians (including Margaret Thatcher), newspaper clippings, and photographs of workers in a factor. Newspaper clippings have a dark yellow wash...
Untitled Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster printed on white paper. At the top is a black rectangle with "one thing, however is clear - nature does not produce on the / one side owners of money or commodities, and on the other men /...	Untitled Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster with a photograph of a hand stitched textile with many people sitting at tables as well as a church and tree. Textile is on a white bakground.
Echemos a volar la Esperanza Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster with red lettering on white background. Illustration of a young woman in white dress, holding a white bird on left hand. In the background is a doorway or window with green fields, blue...	ALCA Os EUA querem dominar as Americas Voce vai deixar? Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster with a map of North America, Central America, the Caribbean, and South america with green and red tanks to denote American miltary bases.