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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Patti Smith 2000 Poster for rock concert by Patti Smith at The Fillmore in San Francisco. Large text in center in white. Background is an American flag.	Sleater-Kinney 2004 Poster advertising performances by Sleater-Kinney at The Fillmore in San Francisco. Image is a face wearing an army helmet with a peace sign, coming out of the San Francisco Bay. The Bay Bridge...
Santana 1995 Poster advertising a Santana performance at The Fillmore in San Francisco. Poster has colorful photograph of Carlos Santana playing the guitar, with colorful inernational stamps in the background...	Sweet's Mill Folk Music Camp and Life Festival 1971 Poster advertising the Sweet''s Mill Folk Music Camp and Life Festival. Poster is mustard color paper with image in black and dark teal. Illustration contains a cabin, trees, a person playing...
Blue Bear School of American Music Strauss, artist Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster for the Blue Bear School of American Music, located at Fort Mason Center in San Francisco, California. Image in center is a blue bear playing a red guitar. The background painting in...	System of a Down 2005 Poster advertising a concert by rock band System of a Down at The Fillmore in San Francisco. Image is an illustration of a man in a suit, but he has no face. In one hand is a chimpanzee mask; in...
The Berkeley Old Time Music Convention 2004 Poster advertising the 41st annual Berkeley Old Time Music Convention. Poster has beige background with information about various acts and locations handwritten. Events take place at Berkeley...	2nd Chakra 1996 Poster advertising an event titled "2nd Chakra," including DJs, holistic clinics, and art. Text is superimposed on a Bougereau painting with a woman surrounded by small angels.
Techno-Tribal Community Dance 2004 Poster advertising the 2004 Techno-Tribal Community Dance. Top half of poster has an illustration of two eyes superimposed over a space sence. Above eyes is a circle with a square inside, and the...	Untitled Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster supporting the Free Air Time Campaign, sponsored by the Alliance for Better Campaigns. Posters has blue and red text on a pale blue-gray background. At center is a stylized illustration of...
Counterpoint Radio Collective 1981 Poster advertising "Counterpoint Radio Collective" on KMFB 92.7 FM radio station in Mendocino, California. Poster has black text and illustration on orange paper. Illustration at center is a hand...	25 Years on the Edge Late 20th Early 21st Century Black and white poster advertising a pre-CD release show titled "25 Years on the Edge." At center is a fuzzy image of a child''s head with hard standing up. Left half of image is negative....
Earthdance 2006 2006 Poster advertising the 10th Earthdance in Northern California. Top half of poster has a circular logo/design with the earth in the center. Background is an orange sky, getting darker by the bottom...	Pizza Palooza 2007 Poster advertising a pizza celebration title "Pizza Palooza" with black text and line drawings on yellow paper. Bottom half has a line drawing of a variety of people, characters, and animals...
Witter Dread Witter Dread, artist Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster with a black and white image on yellow paper. Drawing is a Rastafarian male with long hair. At bottom right surrounded by hair is a round space with buildings and an airplane, with text...	Free Radio vs. The FCC Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster advertising a radio program about radio activist fighting the FCC (Federal Communications Commission). Black text on white paper. No images.
KPFA Community Crafts Fair Bob Baldock, designer, Greg Gawloski, photographer 2003 Poster advertising the KPFA Community Crafts Fair in San Francisco. Text to the left in orange on yellow. Background of poster is a photograph if the interior of an Anasazi kiva, a brick lined...	30th Annual KPFA Community Crafts Fair Bob Baldock, designer, Jan Etre, designer, Liza Hunter Muhly, artist 2000 Poster advertising the 30th annual KPFA Community Crafts Fair in San Francisco. Large image at center is a painted gourd with a woman dancing and drums. Background is red at top and purple at...
Prairie Fire Rock 'n Revolt Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster advertising "Prairie Fire Rock ''n Revolt" in Berkeley, California. Printed on brown butcher paper. Text is a gradation from red to purple to blue, from top to bottom. Information about...	Dixie Chicks Late 20th Early 21st Century Top of poster has a black, white, blue and green photo of three women standing in an alley. Below the image is "Dixie Chicks / The Accidents & Accusations Tour" in white. Bottom of the poster...
Mardi Gras Carnival Bacchanal 1976 Poster printed on off-white paper. At the center is a stylized color image of a woman dancing a playing a drum with a man behind her dancing and playing a wooden recorder. Above the image is "a...	KPFA Crafts & Music Fair 2006 Poster has white unprinted edges. At the top is a color photo of a vessel with the feet of women walking in wooden sandals. At the top of the image is "KPFA / crafts & music fair / December 9...
Ukiah Reggae & World Music Festival Late 20th Early 21st Century Multicolor poster has a stylized background of a valley scene with a lion lying below a tree. At the top of the poster are the presenters in yellow followed by "Ukiah Reggae / & / World Music...	Demystifying the Goggle-Box with Video Vera Vamp of the Vertical Hold Trojan Posters, printer Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has black ink printed on white paper. At the top is "Demystifying the Goggle-Box / with / Video Vera / Vamp of the Vertical Hold". At the bottom is a stylized image of a woman pointing at a...