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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1978

Poster has a red background on the top and a black background on the bottom. In the left center is an image of a man (Gral. Augusto C. Sandino) wearing a cowboy hat and boots with one leg propped...

1979

Poster has a red background with multiple soldiers holding guns in white in the center. The top edge of the poster has "Nicaragua Partria Libre o Morir!!!" printed in white. Below the center...

1980

Top of the poster has the text: " 'Desde nuestras raices, nuestras artesanias' / Nicaragua / Exposici�n y Venta de / Artesan�as Nicarag...

1975

Poster has a photograph on the right of a native woman standing a grassy field. The photograph is printed in blue and white. The left has a maroon background with white text and two photographs of...

1997

Poster has an abstract drawing in the center of handcuffed hands, police beating a person, swastikas, INS, and chains. In the middle of the drawing is "Art Vs. Cops: Police Brutality Must Stop!"...

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