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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Peace / Love
1967

Poster has white unprinted edges enclosing a background that transitions from blue at the left to yellow and then red. At the center is a black peace symbol with two hands inside. Above and below...

untitled (owl and vulture)
1967

Poster has a stylized illustration showing a black owl with blue eyes at the left and a black vulture wearing a red, white and blue stars and stripes helmet perched on a red rod. At the top left...

Cry Freedom
1967

This poster is made up of a collage of newspaper clippings against a black background. The clippings include text such as "The Saigon Post" and "Gunmen Attack US / Embassy In London". There is a...

untitled (children and dove)
1967

Poster has white unprinted edges and black borders enclosing a grayish/black background. At the center are stylized images of children standing behind one another - a boy in a green shirt, a blond...

untitled (children and dove)
1967

Poster has white unprinted edges and black borders enclosing a grayish/black background. At the center are stylized images of children standing behind one another - a boy in a green shirt, a blond...

untitled (American flag and Pledge of Allegiance)
1967

Poster has a blue printed border with white text reading, starting at the bottom left, "One Nation Under Guard - / Of The People - By The People - For The / People - F*uck The People - / With...

Avoid Drafts
1967

Poster has a black and white photo showing a soldier sitting in a dilapidated building with a blacnket over his shoulders and his feet in a bucket. Across the top is "Avod Drafts" in white.

Circa 1967

Poster has a red border at the top, white at the right and blue at the bottom with a central photo of a woman sobbing over a body wrapped in a black bag. Down the left is "our country is...

War is not Healthy
1967

Poster has a black printed background with a purple, pink and yellow flower growing up the left side. Among the stems of the flower is "war / is not / healthy / for children / and other / living...

Peace Torch Marathon
1967

Poster has a blue printed background with a white dove at the top. Below the dove is "Peace / Torch / Marathon / SF.-Wash.DC. / 27 Aug. to / 21 Oct.1967" in orange.

Assembly Of Men & Women In The Arts Concerned With Vietnam
1967

This posted includes a gray, orange, and yellow artwork in the top half of the page. The piece has two gray rectangles with a gray and orange shape above them. The bottom half of the poster is...

peace
1967

This poster is made up of an illustration of a nude woman with long, blonde hair. Her hair extends left to the letter "P" in "Peace", which is printed in blue across her chest. The "P" also...

Peace
1967

This poster is made up of an illustration of a nude woman with long, blonde hair. Her hair extends left to the letter "P" in "Peace", which is printed in blue across her chest. The "P" also...

untitled (man playing flute)
1967

Poster has black ink printed on white paper. At the center is the face of a man playing the flute. Centered at the bottom is "Charles Lloyd" .

Muhammad Ali
1967

Poster has beige unprinted edges enclosing a brown background with a beige oval at the center. In the oval is an illustration of a man''s face. At the top of the poster is "Champion Of peace" and...

untitled (man with a beard)
1967

Poster has black ink printed on white paper and shows an illustration of a man with a beard wearing a striped shirt and necklace. The man appears to be speaking.

Answers in Progress
1969

Poster has black text and red and black images printed on white paper. At the top right is a large red (partial) circle. At the bottom right is an illustration of three African American females in...

untitled (man with trumpet)
1967

Poster shows a partial illustration of a man with a trumpet near his face. "Miles Davis" is printed in black on the bottom edge near the center.

untitled (man playing violin)
1967

Poster shows a partial illustration of a man playing the violin. "Ornette Coleman" is printed in black on the bottom edge near the center.

Who Said Now is the Time
1967

Poster has black ink printed on textured orange paper. Down the left along the bottom left is "We Remember Charlie Parker". At the top right is "Yard/Bird" with an illustrated bird below. At the...

Ashbury/Haight
1967

Poster has a photo of the Haight and Ashbury signs at the street intersection. Imposed over the top of the image are yellow flowers.

untitled (naked embrace)
1967

Poster has a rainbow colored graphic design as a background. At the center is a black and photo of a nude man and woman sitting and embracing. Centered on the bottom edge is "Yab-Yum" in black.

Not Only To Be Loved
1967

Poster has unprinted beige edges enclosing text and illustrations. At the top is a centered beige circle filled in with blue and a circular flower design at the bottom. Arched over the design is "...

Not Only To Be Loved
1967

This poster printed on thick, tan paper features circular and curved orange text reading "Not Only To Be / Loved / But To Be Told That I Am Loved / The Realm Of Silence Is / Large Enough / beyond...

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