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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Moon Crap 1972 Poster has white unprinted edges with an American flag border enclosing a stylized color image of two astronaute on the moon with the earth in the background. At the center, an astronaut stands in...	Join American Newsrepeat, Edmund Shea, San Francisco circa 1967 Poster has a grayscale photo of a man dressed like Uncle Sam standing in front of the dome of the Capitol holding up his middle finger. Across the top is "Join" in blue.
Op-Outs 1967 Poster has a yellow printed background with stylized color pieces of the Statue of Liberty to cut out and construct a small 3D version of the statue on a pink wagon. Each piece of the paper doll...	Fuck You Warden 1972 Poster has a color photo of four men in black and white striped inmate uniforms. The man in fore is wearing a pink apron and holding a pink cake with "Fuck / You / Warden" in red.
Teammates in Mankind's Greatest Adventure 1973 Laminated poster has a stylized color image of a group of astornauts standing on the moon with their helmets off. At the bottom left is black text starting with "teammates in mankind''s / greatest...	Because Hate Is Legistlated Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has white unprinted edges enclosing a yellow background with a green box-like graphic. At the bottom is blue text beginning with "Because Hate Is Legislated...Written Into The / Primer And...
Power Exchange Sex Club Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster is printed on white paper. At the top is a blue background with "Power / Exchange" in yellow and red. Down the right side is "Sex Club" in yellow. At the left is a stylized color image of...	Untitled 1988 Poster is printed on white paper. At the top is a blue bar with "say ''No!'' to drugs" in white followed by a purple bar with "stay healthy!" in yellow. The poster has four stylized color images...
The Joy of Humiliation Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has black ink printed on yellow paper. At the top is "The Joy Of / Humiliation". At the left is "the more she gets / the more she needs, / and she comes to / some of the most / bizarre and...	Cream Rinse Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has black ink printed on orange paper. At the top is "John ''Wadd'' Holmes and / Renee Bond / in". At the center is a stylized illustration of a scantily clad woman sitting in a hair...
Weekenders Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has black ink printed on yellow paper. At the top is "Weekenders / during the week / they lead a normal life, / but on the weekends, / Lust and Passion / take over!" At the bottom is a...	All The Way Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has black ink printed on yellow paper. At the top is a black bar with "Caught In Desire For Her Husband, / Lover And Sexy Girl Friend" in yellow. At the center is a stylized illustration of...
SB1 Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has white unprinted edges enclosing a stylized image of a skeleton wrapped in a black cape, wearing a black hat with a white symbol on it, set on a red background. At the bottom is "SB1" in...	Rituals of the Coven 1970 Poster printed on white paper with a black and white image of a tree next to a wall with an image of figures dancing partially imposed over the top. Centered at the bottom of the poster is "...
Yes on I Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster printed on white paper. At the top is a red background with "For Oakland Seniors" in black. At the left is a white background with a stylized image of a figure in a wheelchair with "Medical...	Oh Give Me A Home Where The Buffalo Roam Alliance Graphics 1993 Poster is printed on white paper. At the center is a stylized color image of buffalo running on grass in front of a tall white building. Across the top of the image is "Oh Give Me A Home / Where...
Deaf Artists of America 1991 Poster has red, white and blue printed edges forming dots and triangles at the top and left and semicircles at the right and bottom. Border is enclosing a pale blue background. At the top is "deaf...	Creative Growth Art Auction William T. Wiley, artist 1982 Poster printed on white paper. At the top is a box outlined in red, shaded in various shades of blue with a white infinity sign formed by stars. At the bottom of the poster is "Fifth Annual /...
untitled (figure on a swing) Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has a central stylized color image printed on white paper showing a figure sitting on a swing, with his head hanging between his arms and knees. Shaping the curve of the top of his body is...	Smoking Kills! 1988 Laminated poster has a black and yellow printed diagonal line background. At the top is a red box with "Smoking Kills!" in white. At the center is a gray background with a central black and white...
The Dangers of Alcohol 1988 Laminated poster has a black and yellow printed diagonal line background. At the top is a red box with "the dangers of alcohol" in white. At the center is a gray background with a central black...	Hazards of Substance Abuse 1988 Laminated poster has a black and yellow printed diagonal line background. At the top is a red box with "hazards of substance abuse" in white and a purple box with "drug awareness guide" in yellow...
AIDS Memorial Quilt 1995 Poster has a color background photo of a needle with red thread resting on white fabric, as seen from close up. At the top left is "The International / AIDS Memorial / Quilt. / Not All Battles /...	Untitled Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster shows a color photo of two shirtless men covering their bodies with an American flag. The figure in the back holds up a condom wrapper. Up the left edge and across the top is "life, Liberty...