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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Musten Baba Late 20th Early 21st Century This is a white poster with a blue image of man''s face in the center of the page. The face has a long beard and hair and dark circles around its eyes. "Mutsen Baba" is printed in blue in the...	Desiderata c. 1968 This black poster is printed on thick paper. It features a photograph of a person standing on wet, rippled sand on a beach with a cloudy sky above. "Desiderata" is in the top left corner of the...
Untitled (man and woman on motorcycle) Late 20th Early 21st Century This poster features an illustration of a man and woman riding a motorcycle seen from the front. Both have long, brown hair and wear sunglasses. The man has a beard and moustache as well. The...	magic Mouse Studios, publisher Late 20th Early 21st Century This poster features a black and white image of a woman surrounded by horned animals with a pyramid in the background in the center of the page. Surrounding this image, a blue and orange frame...
Angel 67 Late 20th Early 21st Century This poster has an illustration of a man covered with white designs wearing a hat and sunglasses. He is depicted from the shoulders up. The background is red and "Angel 67" is along the bottom of...	Odalisque Joel Beck, artist c. 1966 This horizontally-oriented poster features an illustration of a white duck with breasts lying on a red and yellow surface and a blue pillow. The duck is sticking out her red tongue and has a large...
Untitled c. 1970 This horizontal poster is a black and white photograph of a large group of people standing and waving their arms next to a body of water. Some of them are getting in the water. They are surrounded...	Celebration Song 1976 This poster advertises "A Concert In Beneficence To / The Artists, Scholars And Dancers Of Tibet". "Celebration Of Spring" is printed at the top of the poster and there is a blue and white image...
Poster Expo 92 1992 This poster promotes "The First Annual International Rock Poster Exposition & arts Festival". "Poster Expo 92" is printed in large, red text at the top of the page. Red text against a gray...	Jesus Christ Superstar Gerald Byrd, artist, MCA Inc., printer 1971 This poster titled "Jesus Christ Superstar" is printed on textured paper. It features an illustration of Jesus with blue hair and two hands holding a microphone in front of him. There are red,...
8th Annual North Beach Photographic Art Fair Carol McCoy, Gilbert V. Johnson, artist, Tea Lautrec Litho, printer c. 1978 This horizontally-oriented poster advertises the "8th Annual North Beach Photographic Art Fair" at "Aquatic Park" in "San Francisco". There is an illustration of three women seated in the center...	Hare Krishna-Rathayatra Late 20th Early 21st Century This horizontally-oriented poster advertises "Hare Krishna-Rathayatra / San Francisco''s Parade of / Joyous ecstasy". There is a pink tent to the left and a crowd of orange, pink, blue, yellow,...
Delta (Man and woman) Family Dog Productions, publisher, Paul Kagan, artist, Tea Lautrec Litho, printer Late 20th Early 21st Century This poster depicts a naked man and woman embracing, with the man standing behind the woman and holding his hands in front of her. They are kissing. The background has white streaks and fades from...	The Rainbow Show c. 1974 This poster has a tan background with white floral images. Inside a red, floral border in the center of the page is an illustration of the Boddhisattva, a Buddhist deity, in front of a gold ring...
Untitled (Man with flower) Late 20th Early 21st Century This poster features an illustration of a blond-haired man standing on a guitar neck. He is holding an orange and pink flower and wears a blue jacket, colorful pants, a large belt, and orange...	The Other America 1985 Poster is printed on white/cream paper. The poster''s background is a cityscape, most likely New York City. In the forefront is a construction worker who is attaching two thick steel cables...
Meeting circa 1968 Poster has a central stylized black and white image of a man cowering as a fist comes at his head from the top left. At the top is "Meeting" and through the central image is "...	Das Andere Amerika 1983 Poster is printed on white/cream paper. The poster''s background is a cityscape, most likely New York City. In the forefront is a construction worker who is attaching two thick steel cables...
Das Andere Amerika 1983 Poster is printed on white/cream paper. The poster''s background is a cityscape, most likely New York City. In the forefront is a construction worker who is attaching two thick steel cables...	Revolutions Late 20th Early 21st Century Centered at the top of the poster is an illustration of a black earth with a red hammer and sickle logo over the top. Below the graphic is "Revolutions / Kundgebung" in black. At the bottom of the...
Rene Bardet/Poesie & Musik Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has an orange printed background. At the top left is a large black and white photo of a female with a bandana on her forrehead and her jacket zipped up over her neck. At the top right is a...	Wanted Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has a yellow printed background with "wanted!" across the top in black. At the center is a stylized color image of Ronald Reagan wearing a metal helmet with an "N" on it and an American...
untitled (Superman and the American flag) Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has black printed edges enclosing an image of an American flag. At the top left, Superman falls with spirals around his head as if he was knocked out, causing the stars on the flag to...	Was Tun Wenn's Br_nnt Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has a color background photo of a flaming bus on its side on a street. At the top left is "Was Tun Wenn''s Br_nnt..." in red. At the bottom left is "Berlin 11.6." in white followed by white...