Amos Paul Kennedy Jr. (born 1948) is an American printer, book artist, and papermaker best known for social and political commentary, particularly in printed posters.

[4] At the age of 40, Kennedy visited Colonial Williamsburg, a Virginia living history museum, and was mesmerized by an 18th-century print shop and book bindery demonstration.

[9] Kennedy creates prints, posters and postcards from handset wood and metal type, oil-based inks, and eco-friendly and affordable chipboard.

Kennedy isn’t afraid to push the boundaries and uses large graphic typography, bold colors and language that catch the eye and inspire others in the design field.

[12] Kennedy is known to use the words of popular activists like Rosa Parks and peaceful protests like the Selma to Montgomery marches and illustrated the names of lost lives during these movements.

The unevenness of the printing process, where some letters appear more faded or offset than others, becomes part of the aesthetic and conveys a sense of human imperfection, struggle, and resilience.

This imperfect quality also adds a layer of emotional depth to his prints, which suggests that social issues cannot be neatly resolved or erased.

He has created works that address the violence and oppression from law enforcement, as well as the dehumanizing stereotypes that have historically been used to justify racial inequalities.

This focus on text allows Kennedy to bridge the gap between art and activism, using the medium of print to communicate directly with a wide audience.