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.

View results as Grid View results as List Browse Full Collection Advanced Search

iMPerialism Gerhard Trost ~ artist 1977 Poster has a background of a black and white photo of an anonymous person of color being restrained by a military police officer. Above the person is "imperialism" printed in purple...	Trans-Love presents MC-5: Straight Theater Gary Grimshaw ~ artist, The Rip Off Press ~ printer 1969 Poster has a background of red and whtie stripes with blue and white stars. In the center is a purple circle with a white cat with wings. The bottom edges have yellow ovals with zodiac symbols....
March 1975 Bazaar George Stowe Jr. ~ artist 1970 Poster is a parody of a fashion magazine cover. The background is blue with a drawing of a woman in a long drapey green dress. The woman has on a bright pink gas mask. The top has "March 1975...	Free John Sinclair Gary Grimshaw 1970 Poster has a blue border with a purple background. In the center is a United States Flag that is burning at the bottom with a marijana leaf. On either side of the flag is a red star with a white...
See: Union and the Constitution Forever: MC-5 Gary Grimshaw ~ artist 1967 Poster has a blue border around a white shield shape. The shield has small blue stars and "See" in large letters at the top. In the center is an eagle on a United States flag shield holding a...	The See: MC-5 Gary Grimshaw ~ artist 1967 Poster has a turquoise background with purple and white text and image. In the center is a woma with long hair and a white halo. Around her is text. It reads, "The See/ June 23 Friday/ June 24...
Nixon Impeaches G. Duoos ~ artist, Orbit Graphic Arts ~ printer 1974 Poster has a large tin can drawing of peaches in the center. The center of the can has a label with peaches and the face of Richard Nixon. The top has a small stylized Del Monte logo that says...	Eat Me #952S Funky Enterprises, Inc. ~ publisher ~ printer 1996 Small poster with a black velvet background. In the center is an image of mushtooms, butterflies, and a praying mantis in bright neon colors. Above is "Eat Me" in lettering with a neon pink border...
[Carlos] Castaneda's Journey Frederick A. Usher ~ artist 1976 The top of the poster has a blue background; there is a silver bird and a yellow star. From top to bottom of poster the bird shape is repeated and modified until it is transformed to a blue dog...	The March for Peace : San Francisco Charles McCarty ~ photographer, Free-Flight Graphics ~ printer 1970 Poster has a black and white image of a young boy wearing a hat and a plaid shirt sticking his finger up his nose. The same image is repeated behind in blue and yellow and has grey words written...
The Museum of Modern Art: Art Belongs to the People Fred Katz ~ artist 1968 Small poster with a black line drawing of two figures embracing. The poster reads from top to bottom, "The Museum of Modern Art/ 20 West 53 Street, New York City/ Proudly Announces an...	John Beecher reads... Poems of Protest Frank A. Rowe Circa 1978 Poster has a red drawing on the left of a man's head. The man has a bushy white beard and hair. On the right is "Loyalty Oath Exile John Beecher Reads...Poems of Protest California...
STP Users: Do Not Take Thorazine, Seconal or other downers for STP bum trips Frank X ~ artist c. 1968 Poster has a yellow and orange swirl pattern in the background. Over the pattern is purple text. The poster reads, "STP Users: Do Not Take Thorazine, Seconal or other Downers for STP Bum Trips...	Are you now or have you ever been? Frank A. Rowe Circa 1980 Poster has a black and white drawing of a man's head in the center. Across the head is "Are you now or have you ever been?" printed in red.
Are you now or have you ever been? A symposium on McCarthyism Frank A. Rowe Circa 1980 Poster has a black and white drawing of a man's head with "Are you now or have you ever been?" printed in red across the center. The bottom edge has "A symposium on...	The Fight Against Tyranny Begins! Join the Mac [Macintosh computer] Resistance! Frank Kozik ~ artist 1997 Poster has a stylized drawing of a male solldier or revolutionary, with his right ar outstreached holding a pole with a white and red flag. In the his left hand is a rectangular object with the...
Zeni Geva (concert) Frank Kozik ~ artist 1996 Top of poster has bright orange text: "Zeni / Geva / Zen Guerrilla - Black Manna / Sun / Oct / 13 / 8 PM / $6". Poster has a drawing of the Statue of Liberty emerging from rubble with water and...	Overturn the Weber Case Fits Printing ~ printer 1979 Poster has a yellow and orange background with red text and blue images. The bottom has two blue and white outlined figures of a woman wearing a welding mask, and a man lifting his welding mask up...
Overturn the Weber Case: June 2, 1979 National Day of Protest Fits Printing ~ printer 1979 Poster has a yellow background with red text and purple images. The bottom has two purple and white outlined figures of a woman wearing a welding mask, and a man lifting his welding mask up. Above...	Boycott Coors Fits Printing ~ printer c. 1970 Poster has a red background with a cartoon like drawing in the center. There are two people hooked up to a machine with a man in a striped jacket plugging it in and holding the woman. Above the...
L.A. '84 [Los Angeles 1984]... Official Olympics Police State Fireworks Graphics Collective ~ artist 1984 Top of poster has drawing, in black, of Olympic rings made of barbed wire. Below in red is the text: "L.A. '84... / Official Olympics / Police State". At the bottom of the poster in green is...	Puerto Rican Solidarity Day Oct. [October] 27 Fits Printing ~ printer c. 1974 Poster is printed on yellow paper with brown lettering. On each side of the poster is a head that has the Puerto Rican flag for hair. Between the two images is "A Bi-centennial without colonies A....
Par_monos Juntos: Stand Together: Defeat the AIDS Quarantine and English Only Initiatives! Fireworks Graphics Collective ~ artist 1986 Top edge of poster has text in red: "Par_monos Stand / Juntos Together" and Asian characters in red. The center of the poster has a drwawing of four male figures in red pushing a large red and...	Celebrate International Women's Day: Women's Cultural Night Fireworks Graphics Collective ~ artist c. 1979 Poster has a black and white image of a group of Latin American women. The poster reads, "Celebrate International Women's Day/ Women's Cultural Night/ In struggling for the new society we create...