Teaching Gallery / The Politics of the Poster

May 13–August 23, 2026

This exhibition considers the poster as a site of artistic expression and seeks to explore how it can be used to motivate people to collective action. Curated by the BAMPFA Student Committee in conjunction with museum staff, The Politics of the Poster is part of a regular series of rotating exhibitions that connect faculty teaching and student learning with artworks from the museum’s collection.

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Pirkle Jones, Woman with Umbrella, San Francisco, 1955 (printed 1968); selenium-toned gelatin silver print; 14 x 11 in.; BAMPFA Collection, gift of The Pirkle Jones Foundation, 2012.35.11.
Unidentified artist, Amerika is Devouring Its Children, 1970; screenprint on computer paper; 22 x 15 in.; BAMPFA Collection, gift of the University Art Museum Council from the bequest of Herschel Chipp, 1993.37.21.
Amy Franceschini, Untitled (Knowledge is an Endangered Species, Protect It!! Plant It. Share it Freely!) from the series In Protest, 2012; letterpress print; 22 x 14 in.; BAMPFA Collection, Funded by the Kadist Art Foundation, 2012.40.6.

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Teaching Gallery / The Politics of the Poster

May 13–August 23, 2026

The Politics of the Poster
BAMPFA Student Committee | Summer 2026

This exhibition examines the role that posters play in both everyday and institutional spaces. Over the past year, the United States has witnessed an uptick in organized demonstrations, including “No Kings” rallies and immigration enforcement protests. Characteristically, these public displays of resistance have been accompanied by a proliferation of posters and graphics to further their messaging. The works on display in The Politics of the Poster include photographs that document posters in domestic and public spheres, as well as posters from the BAMPFA collection. They illuminate the ways in which illustrations and text are used to promote specific ideologies, and might be adopted or overlooked in different environments. The exhibition positions the poster as a site of artistic expression and seeks to explore how it can be used...

The Politics of the Poster
BAMPFA Student Committee | Summer 2026

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The Politics of the Poster is the third exhibition in the Teaching Gallery curated by the BAMPFA Student Committee in conjunction with Elaine Yau, Associate Curator and Academic Liaison.

The Teaching Gallery is a regular series of rotating exhibitions that connect faculty teaching and student learning with artworks from the museum’s collection.

The BAMPFA Student Committee is a student-run and student-operated organization that works closely with museum staff to connect UC Berkeley students with the museum and the larger Bay Area art scene.