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.
1967
Poster has a blue printed background with a white and black stylized image of a mushroom cloud. Yellow and blue text reads "Eat / Me". |
1967
Poster has a black and white photo of Hi Chi Minh. |
1967
Poster has white unprinted edges enclosing a black background with pink at the top and bottom. In the pink at the top is "here it is! The Great Moral Revolution!" At the top of the black are two... |
1967
Poster has a black and white portrait of Karl Marx. |
1967
Poster has a black and white portrait of Vladimir Lenin. |
1967
Poster has a black and white photo of a sad looking clown. |
1967
Poster has white unprinted edges enclosing a green background. At the top is a yellow background with a stylized purple and green flower, with red blood dripping from one of the flower''s thorns.... |
1967
Poster has a purple background with "1917 / 1967" in red and white. On the bottom of each line are stylized images of soldiers marching. |
1967
Poster has a black printed background with a black and white image of a man with a thick moustache pointing his right index finger up in the air. |
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... |
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... |
Late 20th Early 21st Century
Poster listing "laws" written by occultist Aleister Crowley. Text in green calligraphy on a pink background. Laws are surrounded by a darker pink frame with flames and "666" in green at bottom... |
1967
Poster has white unprinted edges and appears to be printed over an existing red, blue and white poster for a conference. The new poster has a black background, with the existing poster colors... |
1967
Poster has a black and white background photo of two men in cowboy hats sitting against a wooden wall. At the top of the poster, in three columns, is a schedule of events in red, from September 27... |
1967
Poster has black ink printed on white paper. The edges are black. At the top is a photo of Ronald Reagan''s head, with the top portion, from his eyebrows up, cut off, exposing a dotted interior... |
1967
Poster printed on white paper. At the top is a black and white photo of a street sign - a black line with arrows at the left and right and "One Way" at the center. Below the image is "All / The /... |
1967
Poster has black ink printed on white paper. At the bottom right is a photo of a man and woman, with the man reaching up his right arm, which has the muscular anatomy of an arm imposed over the... |
1967
Poster has a multicolor, stylized image of a woman slumped over in a chair. At the bottom of the woman''s yellow dress is an image of a train''s engine releasing steam. |
1987
Poster has a gray printed background. At the top is "Palestine / Year" in purple with the "S" formed by a Palestinian flag. At the center is a multicolroed stylized image of Joseph, Mary and baby... |
Poster has a black printed background. At the top is a red shaded United States with a black illustration of a face and a hand holding a gun. Below the image is "Nosotros / Destruiremos /... |
Poster has a black printed background. At the top is a red shaded United States with a black illustration of a face and a hand holding a gun. Below the image is "We Will / Destroy /... |
Poster has black printed edges with a white unprinted border enclosing a red background. At the top is "In Bolivia / Imperialism Is Not / Really Judging / Debray / but the right of the... |
1967
Multicolor poster has a stylized image of a stoned Santa Claus slipping down a smoking chimney. His hat reads "This Year Give Grass". |