Political posters—
the ideas and struggles
they embody—
are being presented
to wider publics
and new generations
by a unique archive...

With over 70,000 posters, the CSPG archive is the largest collection of Post World War II graphics in the United States.

Eat

The Center for the Study of Political Graphics collects, preserves, and exhibits posters relating to historical and contemporary movements for social change. Through its varied programs, CSPG is reclaiming the power of art to educate and inspire people to action.

There has never been a movement for social change without the arts—music, poetry, theater, posters--being central to that movement. Political posters in particular are powerful living reminders of struggles worldwide for peace and justice. Communication, exhortation, persuasion, instruction, celebration, warning: graphic art broadcasts its messages through bold images and striking designs.The archive contains more than 50,000 posters produced in a staggering array of visual styles and printing media, dating from the Russian Revolution to the present. University, museum, and public collections of this material are rare, and are seldom accessible to the public. CSPG is uniquely committed to widely exhibiting this rich visual record of social movements.

The Power of Poster Art

No Nukes in the Pacific

All art is political, but not all art is overtly political. Protest posters flaunt their politics to generate controversy. Raw and aggressive or polished and sophisticated, political posters are the graphics of dissent from existing injustices. Produced in multiples, often with urgency and any means available—offset, lithograph, silkscreen, linocut, stencil, woodcut, photocopy, or laser—few copies survive. Slapped on walls surreptitiously, often at great risk, by collectives and anonymous individuals or carefully fashioned by recognized artists in well-equipped studios, protest posters communicate instantly and directly to both literate and non-literate viewers. Like all art, political posters stir emotions and reflection. They can deepen compassion and commitment, ignite outrage, elicit laughter, and provoke action. Transmitting and promoting the ideals, hopes, and dreams of millions who have dared to raise their voices in protest, political posters empower and propel diverse movements for social change.

Traveling & Virtual Exhibitions

Save Our Sister Day

Since the nineteenth century, posters have played an increasingly important role in public art. Because of their partisan content, they often have been neglected or destroyed. For this reason, CSPG's timely traveling poster exhibitions are a unique resource. All exhibitions are presented from multi-issue and multicultural perspectives and come mounted and accompanied by translations, annotations, and other educational materials. The exhibitions illuminate and broaden understanding of diverse human-rights issues and movements past and present, including African-American, Asian, Chicano, Native American and Women's rights; AIDS; anti-Semitism; Black Panther Party; Che Guevara and Latin America; ecology; globalization; gentrification and homelessness; immigration; liberation theology; political prisoners; racism, sexism and homophobia; protest in Los Angeles; the Viet Nam era; and the "war" against children.CSPG has more than two dozen traveling exhibitions that are displayed in museums, galleries, libraries, community centers, schools, religious institutions, concert halls, theaters, and government buildings. Selected virtual exhibitions are also available through this website. Contextualizing and deepening understanding of the historical forces at the heart of social and political change, CSPG brings these moving and visually stunning graphics to a broad cross-section of the population. Customized
exhibitions are also available.

Acquisition, Conservation, and Research

Women Are Not Chicks

With more than 70,000 posters, CSPG's growing collection represents one of the most diverse and important visual resources in the nation, and is frequently used by artists, activists, scholars, students, filmmakers, and playwrights. The collection includes posters from over 100 countries. The posters are physically vulnerable markers of historical frontiers, international relations, and popular sentiment. The historical sweep of the collection makes conservation of these fragile graphic records of the utmost importance, and CSPG is committed to preserving the archive for future generations.In addition to posters donated by over 1000 individuals and organizations, CSPG's collection includes the La Peña poster archive, the Fireworks Graphics poster archive, the Bob Fitch poster archive, the David Kunzle poster collection, and the Jill and Michael McCain Collection. The archive also collects buttons and bumperstickers. CSPG is a non-profit, tax-exempt educational archive. All donations are tax-deductible.

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Thanks to Our Supporters

Over the past 20 years, many funders have generously underwritten CSPG's
diverse exhibitions, and they are listed under each exhibition description. We
would also like to thank the following funders for supporting CSPG's archive
and general operating expenses:

The Andy Warhol Foundation