What Would You Say?: Activist Graphics from the Los Angeles County Museum of Art

What Would You Say?: Activist Graphics from the Los Angeles County Museum of Art

Since the mid-20th century, California has been a beacon of both inventive design and political activism. Exploring the intersection of these realms, this exhibition uses case studies from LACMA’s collection to demonstrate how designers and artists championed civil rights, opposed wars and injustice, and pressed for change. Skilled communicators by profession, they distilled complex issues into eye-catching images, often appropriating commercial art techniques—from newspaper broadsheets to screen prints to digital downloads—to distribute powerful imagery despite limited resources. Others led workshops and formed printing collectives, providing movements with new methods for disseminating their messages. Their works express both outrage and optimism, going beyond protest to envision alternative ways of living. Key figures and organizations including Emory Douglas of the Black Panther Party, Sheila Levrant de Bretteville of the Woman’s Building, Self Help Graphics & Art, and street artist Shepard Fairey achieved widespread acclaim and notoriety, galvanizing political movements and empowering marginalized communities. 
 

Since the mid-20th century, California has been a beacon of both inventive design and political activism. Exploring the intersection of these realms, this exhibition uses case studies from LACMA’s collection to demonstrate how designers and artists championed civil rights, opposed wars and injustice, and pressed for change. Skilled communicators by profession, they distilled complex issues into eye-catching images, often appropriating commercial art techniques—from newspaper broadsheets to screen prints to digital downloads—to distribute powerful imagery despite limited resources. Others led workshops and formed printing collectives, providing movements with new methods for disseminating their messages. Their works express both outrage and optimism, going beyond protest to envision alternative ways of living. Key figures and organizations including Emory Douglas of the Black Panther Party, Sheila Levrant de Bretteville of the Woman’s Building, Self Help Graphics & Art, and street artist Shepard Fairey achieved widespread acclaim and notoriety, galvanizing political movements and empowering marginalized communities. 
 

This exhibition was organized by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in collaboration with the Riverside Art Museum; California State University, Northridge, Art Galleries; Lancaster Museum of Art and History; and Vincent Price Art Museum at East Los Angeles College.

Local Access is a series of American art exhibitions created through a multi-year, multi-institutional partnership formed by LACMA as part of the Art Bridges Cohort Program.

Image: Rupert García, LIBERTAD PARA LOS PRISONEROS POLITICAS!, 1971, screenprint, made for the National Committee to Free Angela Davis, 26 × 20 in., Los Angeles County Museum of Art, gift of Allison and Larry Berg and Suzanne and Ric Kayne ​​through the 2017 Decorative Arts and Design Acquisition Committee (DA²)​, © Rupert García, photo © Museum Associates/LACMA

• Mar 25–Jun 24, 2023

• Vincent Price Art Museum
  1301 Avenida Cesar Chavez
  Monterey Park, CA 9175

• Check vincentpriceartmuseum.org/ for availability

• Lancaster Museum of Art and History: January 22–April 17, 2022

  Riverside Art Museum: May 6–August 7, 2022

  California State University, Northridge: August 27–December 4, 2022

  Vincent Price Art Museum: March 25–June 24, 2023

This exhibition was organized by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in collaboration with the Riverside Art Museum; California State University, Northridge, Art Galleries; Lancaster Museum of Art and History; and Vincent Price Art Museum at East Los Angeles College.

Local Access is a series of American art exhibitions created through a multi-year, multi-institutional partnership formed by LACMA as part of the Art Bridges Cohort Program.

Image: Rupert García, LIBERTAD PARA LOS PRISONEROS POLITICAS!, 1971, screenprint, made for the National Committee to Free Angela Davis, 26 × 20 in., Los Angeles County Museum of Art, gift of Allison and Larry Berg and Suzanne and Ric Kayne ​​through the 2017 Decorative Arts and Design Acquisition Committee (DA²)​, © Rupert García, photo © Museum Associates/LACMA

Media

Short films on artists featured in the exhibition "What Would You Say?: Activist Graphics from the Los Angeles County Museum of Art"