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.
1990
Multicolor poster shows a man in a Lakers basaketball unifom jumping up to dunk a basketball in a hoop at the bottom of the poster. At the top right is "if you want to smoke on the court, / don''t... |
Late 20th Early 21st Century
Multicolor poster has an image of a man in a suit with a red, white and blue American flag overlaid on his mouth. At the top of the poster is "From The Two-Time Academy Award Winning Director Of... |
Late 20th Early 21st Century
Poster has black ink printed on white paper. At the top is "Separated At Birth?" At the center are two black and white photos of men in glasses. Below the left image is "Senator Jesse Helms..."... |
1989
Poster has a black printed background. At the left and right are black and white photos of the same man. In the photo at the left, he''s injecting a syringe into the crook of his elbow, but in the... |
1997
Poster has a yellow printed background. The top edge is red with a blue and white background with the text "declaracion universal de derechos humanos". At the top left is a stylized image of a... |
1992
Poster printed on white paper. At the top is "Time Out" in purple with "Arsenio Hall Magic Johnson" in red above. At the right is a multicolor photo of two men wearing leather jackers with tribal... |
2003
Poster printed on white paper. At the top is a photo of a man sitting and smiling. To the left of the image is "I am not cured / I am partnering with my doctor / I am taking COMBIVIR every day /... |
1975
Poster printed on white paper. At the top is a stylized yellow, blue, black and red unidentifiable image with "Safe Return" underlined at the bottom. At the bottom left is "Artists'' Auction For... |
1989
Poster has an orange printed background with blue edges at the top and bottom. Black text in the edges reads "Ignorance = Fear" at the top and "Silence = Death Fight AIDS / Act Up" at the bottom,... |
1991
Poster printed on white paper with a central gray background. At the top is "hanging in the Tenderloin / I can hear old voices" in pink and black. At the center is a multicolor image of a street... |
1980
Poster printed on white paper. At the top is a pink, purple and brown graphic. At the bottom os the poster is "Creative Growth / Art Center For People With Disabilities / Oakland, California" in... |
Late 20th Early 21st Century
Poster printed on white paper. At the top is "Over / Easy" in black. At the center is a color photo of elderly people outdoors. Below the image is "...because we''re all growing older." On the... |
1993
Poster printed on white paper. At the top is a photo of a multicolor quilted robe. At the bottom of the image is "Youth Arts Festival" in black. The bottom edge is black with white text with... |
1990
Poster printed on white paper. At the center is a stylized image of multicolor children standing around a heart. Colorful borders surround the image, with "Feel The Magic" and "Share The Love" in... |
1993
Top of poster has a color photo of two paper mache figures sitting at a table in front of the Golden Gate Bridge. The bottom fo the poster has a black background with "San Francisco Youth Arts... |
Late 20th Early 21st Century
Poster has red unprinted edges enclosing a blue marbled background. At the top is "''one of the funniest and most relevant films now showing.'' -Premiere / In The land Of / A Film By Nicolas... |
1988
Poster printed on white paper. At the top is a beige background with a line of black and white photos of children, growing progressively older form left to right. At the top of the poster is "Ages... |
Late 20th Early 21st Century
Poster printed on white paper. At the center is a stylized bird with rainbow colored feathers carrying a brown nut in his beak. At the bottom center of the image is a white box with black text... |
1986
Poster printed on white paper. At the top is a blue background lined with skulls at the bottom. Above the skulls is "mi corazon se debate por mis hermanos / palestinos, chilenos, la gente / de... |
1985
Poster printed on white paper. At the top is a stlyized, color image of a child''s face, set on a blue background with a dove being held in a hand overlaid. At the bottom of the poster is "the... |
2004
Poster printed on white paper. At the top is "EZLN" in black. At the center is a red star with "10" over the top, formed by a vertical gun and a circle with an image of a man''s veiled face. At... |
Late 20th Early 21st Century
Poster printed on white paper. At the top is a black and yellow photo of a masked soldier smoking a pipe. Imposed around the man''s face are stylized, scrambling skeletons. At the top of the image... |
1987
Poster has a red printed background. At the top is a color photo of people on their knees. At the bottom left is "Guatemala" in blue. At the bottom right is "y cuando digo: !Libertad! / me dicen... |
Late 20th Early 21st Century
Poster printed on white paper. At the top is "Stop U.S. Intervention / In El Salvador" in black followed by a stylized color image of a soldier walking to a helicopter. At the bottom of the poster... |