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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Women's Theater Workshop 1974 Poster has red text and images printed on beige paper. At the top is "Women''s Theater Workshop / Live Oak Theater / Monday, February 11, 1-3 p.m., 10 weeks, $15 / Xanadu Theater...	Stop Forced Sterilization Inkworks Press, printer Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster consists of red, black, and brown print on white paper. Image depicts three women (one Indian, one Puerto Rican and one African American) with their fists raised in the air. Title at top...
The National Tour of Claribel Alegria and Manlio Agueta Mission Grafica, printer, Rene Castro, artist 1985 Poster has a black and blue background with red and white text. Main image is of a volcano emitting steam against a blue sky with a red rose in the foreground. The poster reads, "El Frente...	untitled (Arabic tapestry) 1989 Poster printed on white paper with an image of a tapestry showing a map of the Middle East in green, red and yellow with Palestinian flags over the nation and in the sea. Red and white borders all...
untitled (Emiliano Zapata quote) Inkworks Press, printer, Paul Fusco, photographer, Red Pepper Posters 1979 Poster is printed on orange paper overall. Poster has an unprinted border. The background of the poster is black. The poster is printed with a stylized image of a hand and a small hoe in the dirt...	Hey Soweto 1977 Poster has a black and white printed copy of a hand drawn image surrounded by a white border with white text within the image. Image has wtwo main figures in headdresses holding spears/arrows and...
Agostino Neto Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster printed on white paper with an image of two women clapping and singing, wearing red head coverings and green clothing. At the bottom left on a white background is "...Africa Alive / I Feel...	Northcountry Clinic 1996 Poster has a black background with an image at the top with a blue background and white border showing a tangle of figures in different shades of brown with different designs as their faces -...
In Solidarity With The People Of China Inkworks Press, printer 1989 Poster printed on white paper has a black and white image on top of a man with both of his arms raised toward the right side of the poster and black swooshing lines on top of him. Below the image...	Untitled Inkworks Press, printer 1989 Multi-color poster shows a reproduction of an artwork with a green dragon breathing fire on a red background. Text at top in the artwork reads, "Berkeley Free Clinic." Text around the sides of...
Thirst Inkworks Press, printer Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has an unprinted white border with a beige tinted background of a collage of images showing people boycotting for the right to water. At the bottom left, an image of a woman with a bucket...	How weird 2006 Color poster shows a naked woman in a cowboy hat and heels with a purse covering her genitals and a yellow sign with "How Weird" in black covering her breasts hitch hiking as a blue auto filled...
Don't Get Pushed Around Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster shows a man driving a tractor with skeletons in and blood dripping from the bucket while another man pour gas in the machine from a can labeled with a dollar sign. The man driving is saying...	Festival at the lake Graphic Communications International Union 1990 Poster printed on heavy white paper with a pink bar at the top, teal wavy bar at the left and a darker pink/ red bar down the right. Center area is yellow. In the pink at the top is "Festival at...
Derail Santa Fe: Save Our Waterfront 1996 Poster has a white background with red and black text. The main black and white image is of a train crashed into the ground coming from a upper window of a station. Poster reads, "Derail Santa Fe...	Reach out. Reach in. Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster printed on white paper has a purple bar at the top with "reach out. reach in." in white. Central design shows scattered images of people doing activities - black and white photos, teal and...
Three Views Of Phoenix Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has central black and white image of a man without a shirt on wearing glasses and holding binoculars at his forehead. In front of the man is a set of handle bars with two rear view mirrors...	Festival at the lake 1989 Poster printed on white paper with a central color image showing two abstract figures in bright clothing dancing with a city skyline, boats, mountains and a blue sky in the background and a lake...
Berkeley Free Clinic 1979 Poster printed on white paper with black text and black and white images. At the top is "Berkeley Tenth / Free Anniversary / Clinic may 69may79". Central image shows an abstract animal built like...	Korea Reunification Symposium II Inkworks Press, printer 1993 Poster printed with black, purple, and orange ink on white paper. Text is printed in English and Korean. "Korea Reunification Symposium II" is printed at top center in black font and "Towards...
Cancer: A Profitable Operation Inkworks Press, printer, Red Pepper Posters 1979 Top of poster has a black and white photo of a large graveyard with a city skyline in the background. At the left, near the bottom of the photo is a black tombstone shape with "Cancer: / A /...	Breaking the Blockade of Ideas Inkworks Press, printer, Malaquias Montoya, artist 1989 Poster has an abstract drawing in the center of a red rose that is highlighted against a gray and black background. Poster reads in black, "December 2- Palace of Fine Arts, S.F. 8:00 PM/ Friends...
Women in Arms Inkworks Press, printer Late 20th Early 21st Century The poster has a white border and black background overall. The center of the poster has a black and white photograph with a red border. The Photograph shows a young woman, seated and smiling she...	The Martyrs of El Salvador Inkworks Press, printer, Isaias Mata, artist 1990 Multi-color poster printed on white paper contains a graphic of a young woman and a boy against a purple background with the outline of a mountain range in the distance. The young woman wears a...