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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Beaux Arts Ball Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster is designed like a film strip with black text and three boxes - yellow, red and white. In the top, yellow, box is "San Francisco Tavern Guild Foundation / Presents / Beaux / Arts / Ball"....	Freedom 1993 Top of poster has a quote by Martin Luther King, Jr. about masses marching for freedom (in rainbow colors) in black. At the bottom of the poster is a black and white photo of a group of people in...
Anniversary 1989 Poster has black ink printed on white paper. Top of poster has a background sotted with miniature cows - at the left is a diamond shaped Rainbow Cattle Co. logo with a "Tenth" banner at the bottom...	Francesco Scavullo 1985 Poster has black ink printed on white paper. At the top is "Francesco / Scavullo". At the center is a photo of a male figure dressed like a female, with her hair blowing and left eye winking. At...
Untitled 1989 Poster has black ink printed on white paper. At the top is "Unfortunately, History / Has Set The Record / A Little Too Straight." Below the text are ten photos (two rows, five columns) of famous...	We Shall Enjoy It Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has purple and pink ink printed on blue paper. At the center is a background that''s purple on the left and transitions to pink on the right. At the top of the background is a stylized...
The Cockettes & Sylvester Todd Trexler Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has pink printed edges enclosing a central white box with a stylized image of a man with heave makeup wearing a small green dress and heels leaning on a truck with "The Cockettes" on the...	Lesbian Pride 1972 Poster has blue and pink ink printed on white paper. At the top are two naked pink females on a blue background. The woman at the left is crawling toward the crouched woman at the right, reaching...
untitled (embrace) 1976 Poster has white unprinted edges enclosing a copy of a drawing showing two figures on a couch kissing. To the bottom left of the image is "''The Kiss'' drawn by Noreen Scully" in black.	untitled (man drinking a Budweiser) 1988 Poster has a color image of a shirtless man sitting against a brink wall with a basketball to his left and a beer in his hands.
Key West 2003 Poster has black printed edges enclosing a color aerial photo of Key West with people working together to hold up a gay pride falg down a long street. At the bottom left of the image is "Key West...	I Love a Man in a Uniform Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has white unprinted edges enclosing a black and white photo of a man holding a white uniform over his bare shoulder with his uniform pants and hat still on. Across the bottom of the poster...
There is No Easy Walk to Freedom Anywhere 2002 Poster has a black and white photo of Nelson Mandela looking off to the left. Across the top is "''There is no easy walk to freedom anywhere'' / Nelson Mandela" in white. At the bottom left is a...	We Are The World 1985 Poster has a red and white spotted background. At the top is a color photo of 43 artists standing in front of a USA for Africa banner cheering. At the top right is the USA for Africa blue logo...
Judy Francesconi 1995 Poster has black text and a black and white image printed on white paper. Photo at the top of the poster shows two naked women seated with their legs turned away from each other and feet touching...	Sun City 1985 Poster has a black printed background. At the top is "Sun City" in orange and "Artists United Against Apartheid" in white. At the center of the poster is a red explosion graphic with a line of...
Art Against Apartheid 1984 Poster has a yellow printed background. At the bottom is are images of human figures, fighting and simply standing, white two are, one black and one white, rise up the right side of the poster....	Desmond Tutu 1990 Poster has a purple and white zig-zag pattern background. At the center is a black and white photo fo a man in glasses. At the top is "Desmond" in black and "Tutu" in beige. Below the image is a...
Farewell at the Hour of Parting 1971 Poster has a beige printed background with black text and a black at white image at the top right showing a woman with a gun over her back and a child on her hip. At the top left is "Farewell at...	untitled (faces of children) Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has white unprinted edges enclosing four images of children imposed over maps of their respective regions - western Africa, Egypt, Vietnam and South America. The images are arranged two by...
Boycott Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has a black and white photo of a woman with a gun over her back and a child on her hip. At the top right is "There Are But Two / Sides In A War - She / Fights On The Side Of / African...	Women of the African Ark Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has a blue printed background with color photos of women from all over Africa and accompanying white text listing their regions and information about their culture. Across the bottom fo the...
Azania Will Be Free Fireworks Graphics Collective Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has white unprinted edges enclosing a red background with white text and images. At the top is "South Africa" followed by stylized images of faces. At the bottom of the poster is "Azania /...	Solidarity 1984 Poster has a brown and white spotted background image of a woman holding a child. At the bottom are black unidentifiable shapes (faces in protest?). At the top is "Solidarity" in brown and "with...