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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Summer Solstice Celebration 1980 Poster printed on white paper. At the top is a stylized yellow and black image of a sun smiling down on a cityscape with musical notes floating above the tall buildings. Arched over the image is "...	Processed World 11 1984 Poster has black and purple ink printed on white paper. At the center is a stylized image of two homeless looking men rumaging through bins of broken technology, like phones, floppy discs,...
Capt. Don Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has red ink printed on yellow paper. At the top is an image of a figure holding three swords by the blades. In the bottom right corner of the image is another image - of a large ship with...	Processed World Hugh D'Andrade Circa 1982 Poster has black ink printed on white paper. Across the top is "Processed World". At the center is a four frame comic strip with a man driving a car in the first two frames and sitting...
People's World Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster pritned on yellow paper with an arched red, tellow and black image of the sun on the horizon. At the center is "solidarity" printed in various languages. At the bottom of the poster is "...	What's Happening? Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has a blue printed background. At the top is "What''s / Happening?" in white. Below the text is a black and white photo of African Americans protesting budget cuts and racism. At teh bottom...
People's World Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster printed on white paper. At the top is a gray background with a stylized white, gold, orange and blue image of a man pouring oil into a machine. At the bottom of the poster is gold text...	We Print the News and Raise Hell Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has black ink printed on white paper. At the center is a stylized image of a bulldog holding a Guardian newspaper in his mouth. Above and below the image is: "We Print The News / And Raise...
Read the Young Socialist Late 20th Early 21st Century Left side of the poster has a black and white photo of a man sitting on a bench reading a newspaper. The rest of the poster is blue with white and black text. At the top right is "Read The / Young...	Fifth Estate Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has a multicolor, stylized image of rows of blue and black houses. Over the houses at the right is a large pyramid, formed by computer chips and brand names. The top of the pyramid is being...
A Texas Rock N Roll Dance Party Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has black ink printed on beige paper. The poster has a background image of an armadillo. Teat at the top reads "Dave McQueen presents: / A Texas Rock N Roll Dance Party". The rest of the...	Hey Kids! 1969 Poster has black ink printed on newspaper. At the top left is a black background with "Hey / Kids!" in block letters. The rest of the poster has cartoons/comic strip characters with text about...
Jazz Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster printed on white paper. At the top is "Jazz" in yellow in a strip of red followed by vertical black and white lines with "save the arts! / B.A.M. Benefit Concert" over the top in red. At...	The Suicide Club Stump Town Printers Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster printed on blue paper with a predominantly dark blue background with a red stylized Golden Gate Bridge at the top. On the right side is "the / Suicide / Club / In The Mid 1970s, This /...
Death and Taxes Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has red, black and green ink printed on white paper. At the top is "Death And Taxes April 1-18 / A Public Art Event Sponsored By P.A.D. (Political Art Documentation/Distribution) In...	The February 26th Movement Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has purple ink printed on yellow paper. At the top is "The February26th Movement / An Inaugural Event". At the center is an outline of the contiguous United States, with four hands reaching...
If You Can Walk Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster shows two women in traditional African clothing with their hands locked together dancing in the foreground with a woman clapping behind them at the right, all in front of green foliage. At...	Demonstrate! Late 20th Early 21st Century Poster has a black background printed on red paper. At the top is "Demonstrate! / June 26 - July 25 / presented by P.A.D. 345 Lafayette St." At the left is a red box with the text "an / exhibition...
Make Culture from Life Everyday Insurgent Squeegee, Lincoln Cushing 1978 Poster has red ink printed on off-white paper. At the top is "make culture / from life / everyday". Below the text is a stylized image of two female figures running holding a doll or...	Untitled Inkworks Press 1997 Poster printed on tan paper. At the top is "you are invited to a conference on / Social Struggle and Cultural Preservation: / Education, the Arts, & Community Power". At the center of the...
Detours Sharp Turns & Little Naggy Feelings 1983 Poster has black text and purple images printed on white paper. The images move in a vertical line over a horizontal line near the center and show human figures of various ages and occupations....	A Call for Entries 1987 Poster has black ink printed on white paper. At the top is "A Call For Entries... / Arts For A Better World / submissions are now being accepted for the San Francisco State University Student...
Imaginaction III Inkworks Press 1988 Poster has a blue printed background with black and white stylized images of figures and symbols at the top and black text at the bottom. Text beings with "Imaginaction III / cultural vision and...	Imaginaction 1986 Poster has red and black ink printed on off-white paper. At the top are stylized images of human figures and abstract shapes with the text "Imaginaction / the 10th anniversary of / the Alliance...