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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KPFA Holiday Crafts Fair Elly Simmons, artist, KP Corporation, printer 1994 Poster has a black printed background. Centered at the top is "new location! one weekend only!" Below the text are stylized, multicolor images of faces, arranged two by two. At the bottom is "the...	KPFA Crafts Fair Inkworks Press, printer, Nancy Hom, artist Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has a black printed background. At the top is "22nd Annual / KPFA Crafts Fair" in pink and yellow. Below the text is a stylized pink, green, blue, yellow and purple graphic of a busic note...
KPFA Holiday Craft Fair Inkworks Press, printer Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has white unprinted edges enclosing a photo of multicolor textiles. At the top is "21st Annual KPFA / Holiday Crafts Fair / great crafts - live music / live entertainment - great food" in...	Capricorn Women Reggae Tour Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has yellow unprinted edges enclosing a black background with yellow stars. At the top is "Capricorn Women" arched over "Reggae Women". At the center are black and white photos of three...
Burning Spear 1983 Poster has red and black ink printed on light green paper. At the top is "The Keystone Family presents: -1983 tour / Burning / Spear / plus Raskidus Roots Connection" followed by the dates,...	Jah Jah Live Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has black ink printed on white paper. At the top is "New Album Release" followed by an image of a man in a track suit with heavy jewelry and a hat. Arched at the top is "Jah Jah Live!"...
Untitled 1994 Poster has white unprinted edges enclosing a blue background. At the top left is a yellow circle with "Global Awareness Movement / Pick Up The Pieces". At the top is "Mind Body & Soul" in...	A Reggae Memorial Dance Party for Jah Big 1989 Poster has black ink printed on white paper. At the top is "a reggae memorial dance party for / Jah Big" followed by a headshot of a man with dreadlocks and a large "Jah Big" necklace. Down the...
5th Annual Peter Tosh Birthday Celebration 1996 Poster has black ink printed on yellow paper. In an arch at the top is "Coming Again / 5th Annual / Peter Tosh / Birthday Celebration". At the center is a photo of a man in front of a microphone....	Reggae Explosion 1988 Poster has red and green ink printed on pale yellow paper. At the top is "Reggae Explosion" followed by a stylized image of a lion with dreadlocks wearing a crown in front of people singing. At...
Power to the Peaceful Festival 2003 Poster printed on white paper with an orange background that transitions to yellow at the center and white at the bottom. At the top is "Free Concert / hosted by KPFA''s Hard Knock Radio . www....	The 2nd Annual Peter Tosh Birthday Celebration 1993 Poster has white unprinted edges enclosing a black and whtie lined photo of a man in sunglasses. At the top is "out of many one/Mission 101 presents: / The 2nd Annual / Peter Tosh / Birthday...
Heat of the Beat Drum Festival Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has white unprinted edges enclosing a purple and white pixelated image of a figure playing a drum. At the top is "live from / Redwood / Heat Of The Beat / Drum Festival / First...	Amandla Poets Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has black ink printed yellow paper. At the top is "Show and Dance / Mbaqanga Jive / South African / Mbaqanga Jive & Reggae". At the left center is a list of performance genres. At the...
Fela 1984 Poster has black ink printed on yellow paper. At the top is "Coming September 8th! / Fela / A Nikulapo Kuti / ''Music is the Weapon''". At the center is a stylized image of a man holding up a...	Untitled 1991 Poster has yellow printed edges with a red background. At the top is a white rectangle with "Ben & Jerry''s" in black at the top; a central, stylized, yellow, black and red image of people...
Berkeley World Music Weekend 2005 Poster has white unprinted edges enclosing a purple background. Down the right side are red, yellow and orange waving lines. Across the top is "Berkeley World Music Weekend" in green and yellow....	Casselberry - DuPree 1986 Poster has black ink printed on white paper. At the top is "Casselberry - DuPree / Limited Return Engagement / To The Bay Area / In Concert At". At the center is a black and white photo of a man...
Berkeley World Music Weekend 2004 Poster has a purple and blue printed background with a black and white photo of a man standing with one foot in the air, holding a long, hollow stick. The end of the stick and the man''s foot are...	Global Rock Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster printed on white paper with a black and white checkered border. Text down the length of the poster reads "brothers / of the / Baladi / Global / Rock / & Middle Eastern Music And Dance...
Looters Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster printed on white paper with black ink. A tthe top is "Komotion International / World Beat / Recording Artists" with a stylized globe with music noted coming out of it at the center. At the...	By the Beat of the Drum 1979 Poster printed on white paper. At the top is a stylized image of a flaming drum among plants beneath an orange sky. At the bottom of the poster is "by the beat of the drum / with ?atucaje /...
Sierra Nevada World Music Festival 1998 Poster has a blue printed background. At the top is a multicolor stylized image of people playing drums around a fire in front of a pond in the mountains while people dance and play instruments...	Afro-Cubana Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has a yellow printed background with red zig-zagging borders at the left and right. Across the top edge is "Jazz In The City Presents" in green. At the top of the poster is a red explosion-...