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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The Power of a Grandpa Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has black ink printed on white paper. At the top is a photo of an elderly man talking to a child. Below the image is "the power of a grandpa." The rest of the poster has two columns of text...	Preying Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has black and red ink printed on white paper. At the top is "Praying" in red with the "a" covered by a black "e". A collage of images on the poster shows people and KKK members sitting in...
Faith Lorin Gillette Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has black ink printed on white paper with a dark image of a sailboat run aground across the Bay from San Francisco, with the mast forming a cross. At the top of the poster is "Faith".	2nd International Islamic Unity Conference '98 1998 Poster has a red printed background iwth an ornate green border. At the top center is Arabic text with a translation from the Koran along with "2nd International Islamic / Unity Conference ''98"....
When he was learning to read... Avrum Rubenstein Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has black ink printed on white paper with a stylized image of a man wrapped in a robe with a beard wagging his index finger at a young boy in a robe. Text reads "when he was learning to...	Insecure. Afraid. Alone. Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has a color headshot of a young ma. At the top right is "talking / The Anti-Drug". At the bottom of the image is "Insecure. / Afriad. / Alone." in yellow. The bottom edge is white with "if...
Embarrassed. Angry. Ashamed. Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has a color headshot of a young lady. At the top right is "talking / The Anti-Drug". At the bottom of the image is "Embarrassed. / Angry. / Ashamed." in yellow. The bottom edge is white...	Easter Late 20th Early 21st Century Stylized, multicolor poster has a light blue printed background with an image of an angel standing at the entrance of Jesus''s tomb as two women cower at the left. In the pink sky is "Easter" in...
Ramadan Late 20th Early 21st Century Stylized, multicolor poster shows an Islamic structure below a night sky. At the top is "Ramadan" in yellow over a red crescent. In front of the structure is an open book with Arabic text,...	Passover Late 20th Early 21st Century Stylized, multicolor poster shows a traditional Passover meal, with a copy of the Torah propped up at the edge of the table. In the four corners are images associated with the story of Passover -...
Emphysema Slims Doug Minkler 1992 Poster has a purple printed background. At the top is "Doc [heart logo]" in blue and "presents / ''breathtaking tennis'' / Emphysema Slims" in light purple. Below the text is a multicolor,...	1992 Ms. Gay Universe 1992 Poster has black ink printed on white paper with a stylized background image of pageant contestants, with a woman weraing a crown and "Ms. Gay Universe" sash at the right, near an image of the...
Unificationism & Martial Arts Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has a yellow printed background. At the top is a strip of maroon with "unificationism / & Martial Arts" in yellow and a color photo of two people jumping in the air and kicking. At the...	Speaking for the Buddha? 2005 Poster has an orange tinted background with images of mountains and a budding flower. At the center is a stylized image of a buddha sitting in an open blue flower holding a television. At the top...
TV Preaching for Fun and Profit 1987 Laminated poster printed on white paper and designed as a satirical game commenting on televangelists with stylized imagery. At the center is a tree with money as clumps of leaves. Below the tree...	The Survival Rundown 1980 Poster has a stylized, multicolor image of North American Indian men hunting buffalo using bows and arrows. At teh bottom of the poster is orange text reading "the / Survival / Rundown / contact...
That All May Freely Serve Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has white unprinted edges enclosing a stylized, multicolor image meant to look like a pane of stained glass. The image is of seven people gathered behind a table with bread and wine on it....	If God is So Great... Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has black ink printed on white paper with images of religious figures with winding keys in their heads. The key on the pope''s head at the center is being turned by a hand. The mouths of...
All Religions Believe in Justice Allied Printing, printer Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster with block white letters on maroon background. Bottom half has illustration of five figures, outlined in maroon and fading toward the bottom. Web address across bottom in maroon.	Weirdisms Lee Brown Coye, artist 1967 Poster with black and white scratchboard style illlustration of a wizard and witch arm in arm, with a boar on a leash. A crescent moon is in the background. The witch is holding a broom, and...
Take one world Allied Printing, printer, Khalil Bendib, artist, Robert McAfee Brown, writer Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster with several hands dropping beans into a cauldron that is in the shape of the earth. a moon and stars make up the background. Poem by Robert McAfee Brown on the globe.	Weirdisms Lee Brown Coye, artist 1967 Poster with black and white illustration in scratchboard style of a wizard wearing a long cloak and carrying a wooden staff that has a platypus tied to it. "Weirdisms" acorss top and text about...
Witches were long ago accepted as an established fact... Lee Brown Coye, artist 1967 Poster with a black and white illustration of a witch mixing a brew in a cauldron. Various items listed in the text at top left appear in illustration: black cat, frog, skull, baby, bone, hanged...	Kickin' Butts It's a woman thing. Doug Minkler, artist, Inkworks Press, printer 1996 Poster with illustration by Doug Minkler of a "Virginia Slime Lights" box of cigaretter that has been knocked down.l The arms and legs of the box are broken and bent cigarettes. Faux text warning...