Political Posters
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.
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... |
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... |
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". |
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".... |
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... |
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... |
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... |
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... |
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,... |
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 -... |
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
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... |
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... |
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... |
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... |
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... |
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.... |
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... |
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. |
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... |
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. |
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... |
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... |
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... |