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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Jello Biafra Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster advertising the sixth spoken work album for Jello Biafra. "JELLOW BIAFRA" in large black text at top and a toilet paper roll dispenser that has the American flag design on the paper. Across...	Prairie Fire Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster advertising records and tapes for Prairie Fire. Top half of poster is a pixilated image of a volcano spewing lava. Bottom half of poster is red, with two figures in white (one playing...
African Cinema Mission Grafica, printer Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster advertising a celebration of African films over two days. Poster has a black, red, and green background with a camera tripod that has an african mask on top.	A Rainbow Film Festival 1995 Poster advertising the Rainbow Film Festival held in Portland, Oregon. Top half of poster has rainbow colors and a length of film with ethnic illustrations in each frame. Text below lists the...
Marlon Riggs: 10 Years After Ayana Baltrip, designer 2004 Poster advertising events in honor of Marlon Riggs, ten years after his death. At center is a color photograph of Marlon Riggs with a film camera on his shoulder. Across the bottom are five...	Reggae Festival of 1981 Sentury Printing, printer 1981 Poster advertising the Reggae Festival of 1981, with performances in Oakland and San Francisco. Background is a gradient starting with green at the top, then yellow, then red at the bottom. There...
In Honour of Bob Marley 1982 Concert poster for six acts in honour of Bob Marley. Poster has a six-pointed star at center, with a photo of Bob Marley at center, and photos of the performers in each of the points. Background...	Music in the Plaza Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster for Music in the Plaza, a weekly music gathering in Oakland, California in October. Poster has an illustratino of a green tree at center, with a red musical note in a white box centered on...
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission Reactor c. 1980 Poster for the band The Nuclear Regulatory Commission for the release of an album titled "Reactor." Poster has six figures on a gray background. All figures are wearing white jumpsuits, and all...	WNRZ 102.9 FM Ann Arbor Gary Grimshaw, artist Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster for WNRZ, an FM radio station in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Poster has an illustration of a long-haired male with rainbow and musical notes running through his ears. The background has a...
Third Invitational Seminar and Teleconference on the Art of Radio John Van Hamersveld, artist 1981 Poster advertising the Third Invitational Seminar and Teleconference on the Art of Radio. Poster has an illlustration of the top of the Empire State Building, with concentric circles (like radio...	Radio Venceremos 1990 Poster celebrating the 9th anniversary of Radio Vencermemos. Poster is black with red text throughout. In the enter is a star with red, white, and black stripes. On top of the star is a rectangle...
Dylan for President Robert Codish, artist 1968 "Dylan for President" poster that is a pullout from the November 23, 1968 Rolling Stone magazine. Stylized illustration of Bob Dylan in blue and white. Left half of poster is red. Verso has eight...	The Thirteenth Annual Vancouver Folk Music Festival Dugg, artist 1990 Poster advertising the Vancouver Folk Music Festival. Top half of poster is a Jose Guadalupe Posada print with dancing skeletons. Bottom half of poster lists various musical acts.
2nd Annual Western Regional Folk Festival Ted Sharpe, designer Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster advertising the 2nd Annual Western Regional Folk Festival, held at Ft. Barry/Cronkhite in Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Poster has a red background, with a silhoutted black and...	Joan Baez Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has black ink printed on yellowed paper. At the top is "Joan Baez / Friday, Oct. 2 - 8:30 pm / only Bay Area appearance / U.C. Hearst Greek Theatre, Berkeley / presented by the Associated...
KPFA Mission Grafica, printer Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has a black printed background. At the top is "KPFA". At the center and bottom is a stylized blue, green, yellow and red image of a three-pronged candle holder with leaves, flowers, a bird...	The Big Green Screen Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has green and purple ink printed on brown paper. At the top left is "Food First / prensents / The / Big". At the top right is "Green / Screen". At the top center is a stylized image of an...
The New Folk Late 20th Early 21st Century Top of poster has a purple background with an orange and white stylized image of a musical group performing, with "The New / Folk" in white at the top. A discolored piece of paper was adhered at...	Cellski Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has black printed edges with a multicolor stylized marijuana leaf border. At the top is "from Master P''s, ''West Coast Bad Boys'' and / the top sellin'' ''17 Reasons'' comp - Cellski aka 2...
Pete Seeger Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has red and black ink printed on yellow paper. On the background is a stylized profile image of a man in a hat. At the top is "An evening with / Pete Seeger / Saturday, February 25th - 8:...	Vancouver Folk Music Festival 1990 Poster printed on white paper. At the top is "Thirteenth Annual" in yellow in a green and pink box followed by "Vancouver / folk music festival" in yellow and "July 13, 14, 15 1990 / Jericho Beach...
Macolm X Jazz Arts Festival 2003 Multicolor poster is an advertisement for a music festival. At the top left is "imperialism" with a phonetic spelling and two definitions. Across the top is "Eastside Arts Alliance presents the...	Earth Beat 1989 Poster has blue printed edges. At the top is a stylized multicolor image of people dancing around the earth with rays radiating from the figures to the edges of the poster. At the top is "If You...