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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Fusion 97 1997 Poster has silver color edges enclosing a purple background of outer space. Centered on the top edge is "Fusion 97" with logos to the left and right. On the left and right edges is "Open Your Mind...	The 3rd Eyeball 1984 Multicolor poster has a central stylized image of an eyebal reflecting the face of a person in the iris. At the top of the poster is "the 3rd / eyeball". At the bottom is a yellow text box with...
Exotic-Erotic Ball 1986 Poster is an advertisement for the Exotic Erotic Halloween Ball. Printed on a black background, with ticket information in blue on a white background at the bottom. At the right is a woman in a...	untitled (children) Emmy Lou Packard, artist Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has a central stylized black and white image of a group of children playing beneath flying birds. Around the edges of the image is red text reading (starting at the top left): "keep our...
Meet Your Peace & Freedom Candidates Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has purple ink printed on white paper in a stylized hourglass shape reading "Meet Your / Peace * Freedom / Candidates / For U.S. Senate / Paul Jacobs / Bill Mack / Hugh Manes / At 450...	Les Ballets Africains Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has black and red ink printed on white paper. At the left is a stylized image of a topless woman dancing. At the top is "Les Ballets / Africains" in black. At the bottom right is "Peace...
Register Now Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has black ink printed on a green background. At the top is "Register / Now" in black. On the bottom is a black arrow pointing up filled with the text "Peace / & / Freedom / Party" in...	Gloria La Riva for Governor Inkworks Press, printer Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has black ink printed on yellow paper. At the top is "vote Tue. November 3 / Peace & Freedom Party / Gloria / La Riva / for Governor" with a photo of three women and propositions to...
Festival Week Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has black and blue ink printed on white paper. At the top is "Festival / Week" in white on black. At the center is a stylized image of a man with long head and facial hair with a peace...	The Libranos Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster designed like a movie poster, resembling the design of a poster for the Sopranos. At the top is a line of men in suits. Near the center is "The / Libranos / Canadian Politics. Redefined."...
Practice Random Kindness and Senseless Acts of Beauty Inkworks Press, printer 1983 Poster has black text printed on white paper reading "Practice / Random / Kindness / And Senseless / Acts Of Beauty / Anne Herbert".	Better the Pain 1983 Poster printed on white paper. At the top is a yellow circle with a black and white illustration of a butterfly emerging from a cocoon. Text around the edges of the circle reads "Better The Pain...
A World That Works for Everyone 1980 Poster has black ink printed on white paper and is designed like a news publication. At the top is "a ''shot heard ''round the world...'' / a world that works / for everyone". The poster has four...	Humanize the Earth Late 20th Early 21st Century Multicolor poster has a stylized image of a crowd of people smiling and shouting. At the top is "Humanize / The Earth" in white. Near the center is an orange banner with "the human being / is...
Haight Ashbury Street Fair 1991 Poster has white unprinted edges enclosing a background of alternating yellow and orange rays radiating from a central, stylized green eye. In the pupil of the eye is a sunny street filled with...	Dr. Ron Sable Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster printed on white paper. At the left is a headshot of a man in a suit. At the top right is an orange block with "Dr. Ron / Sable" in white. At the bottom is a large pink block with "Alderman...
Cheap Thrills 1977 Poster has black ink printed on white paper. At the top is a bird with his wings outspread. Above the bird is "Cheap Thrills". Below the image are calendars for January-April of 1977. At the...	Cheap Thrills 1976 Poster has black ink printed on white paper with a stylized background image of an eerie plant with outer space in the background. At the top is "Cheap Thirll" arched around an oval graphic design...
Haight-Ashbury Street Fair 1980 Multicolor poster has a stylized background image of people gathered in a street celebrating at a fair. At the top is "3rd annual / Haight-Ashbury / StreetFair" in red and "Sunday May 18 1980 /...	Nancy Kaszak Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has an orange printed background with white text and a central black and white photo of a woman at a desk. At the top is "Nancy / Kaszak / 46". At the bottom is "Alderman for / the 46th...
Exotic Erotic Halloween Ball 1991 Poster advertising the 12th Annual Exotic Erotic Halloween Ball in San Francisco. In the center of the poster is an image of a woman in lingerie being held by Frankenstein, who has a snake around...	Exotic Erotic Halloween Ball 1990 Poster advertising the 11th Annual Exotic Erotic Halloween Ball in San Francisco. In the center of the poster is an image of a woman being held by a wolfman monster. The background is black, with...
Free Willie Now 1993 Poster advertising the 10th Annual End of Sesson Bash, featuring Willie Brown as speaker. At top left is an image of Willie Brown. Bottom half of the poster has the head of a killer whale biting...	Practice Random Kindness and Sensless Acts of Beauty The Berkeley Store Gallery, printer 1983 Poster with white background, black text with the quote "Practice Random Kindness and Sensless Acts of Beauty" by writer Anne Herbert, and colorful brushstrokes in purple, red, yellow, and green...