RED SHOES Poster Archive . Archif Bosteri'r Esgidiau Cochion

In our collection we have over 100 'cultural revolution' works printed for global distribution in that period. Including a copy of this.

'Shared happiness’ — Chinese poster (1962) showing Mao celebrating New Year with the peoples of China. Designed by Liu Wenxi.

Workers have the power to make a land of kibble and fish for all. Our sturdy tomcat constructs a bowl. Swirls of abundant milk, fish, kibble, and catnip arise and fill the background. "Socialist League" (2021) is my cat poster version of the very real membership card drawn by Walter Crane. The League was founded by the famous writer and artist William Morris in 1884.

Comrades: a couple of us are interrailing and TODAY WE ARE IN PARIS for International Workers Day 😁😁😁👊🏿✊🏼✊️👊🏼👊♥️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🚩

We are joining the March later, and hope to pick up a few posters for the archive too 🙏🤞

But in the meantime here's some street posters we've seen on our travels in Belgium, Germany and here in Paris

Robert Chrisman, Thomas Clarkson, Nathan Hare, Janet Cheatham Saxe; The Black Scholar Vol. 2 No. 2, The Black World Foundation; United States, 1970 ⁠
⁠
In 1791, British abolitionist Thomas Clarkson commissioned a diagram to detail how humans were packed into slave ship hulls for monthslong transatlantic journeys. Clarkson’s diagram demonstrated the stark and cruel reality of the slave trade, which his efforts helped outlaw in Britain in 1807. This symbol has since been reclaimed on artwork ranging from protest posters, to album art (like Bob Marley’s 1979 Survival), to this cover of The Black Scholar journal.⁠
⁠

KAZUMASA NAGAI [1929–2026]

Kazumasa Nagai (Japanese: 永井 一正; April 20, 1929, Osaka, Japan – February 23, 2026) was a renowned Japanese graphic designer and poster artist, widely regarded as one of the pioneers of modern graphic design in Japan.
Born in Osaka, Nagai became a central figure in shaping postwar Japanese visual culture. His work is distinguished by bold, simplified forms, vivid colors, and a strong sense of symbolism. He is especially known for his iconic poster designs, many of which feature stylized animals and abstract compositions that reflect both traditional Japanese aesthetics and modernist influences.
Throughout his career, Nagai explored themes such as nature, life, and environmental awareness. His ability to communicate complex ideas through minimal visual language made his work influential both in Japan and internationally.
Nagai was also an active member of the design community and contributed to the development of Japanese design institutions. Over the decades, he received numerous prestigious awards and honors, earning global recognition for his contributions to graphic design.
His legacy continues to inspire designers worldwide, and his work remains a key reference point in the history of contemporary graphic art.
works by Kazumasa Nagai via https://www.ndc.co.jp/en/projects/kazumasa-nagai-life/
https://umma.umich.edu/objects/kazumasa-nagai-design-life-2017-2-67/
https://umma.umich.edu/objects/kazumasa-nagai-design-life-2017-2-67/
https://a-g-i.org/user/kazumasanagai/

Last weekend we hosted a small birthday related archive visit. Anti Racist, Anti Apartheid and Wales related posters were brought out for viewing, handling and discussion. Visitors got to chat with our curator Shaun, in the grand surroundings of Cymru Global 's council chamber, at Cardiff's iconic Temple of Peace (where our archive is based). If you have a special occasion and are looking for something a bit different for your group please get in touch. We'd be happy to host you

Lenin's City is the Most Literate City in the World, Soviet Literacy Poster 1931

Soviet poster noting the great strides in Soviet literacy rates and the achievement of 100% literacy in Leningrad placing it above Berlin and London as the world's most literate city. The banners celebrate the cultural revolution that literacy was a cornerstone of, the fight for literacy, and call for the achievement of full literacy across the USSR.

The eradication of illiteracy was one of the great early achievements of Soviet socialism. In many regions there had been a literacy rate of virtually zero and some did not even have standardized writing. Within a generation of the revolution this had all changed.