Northern California’s Greatest Artist: Wayne Thiebaud

Where to See Wayne Thiebaud's Paintings

Wayne Thiebaud was born in 1920 and just passed away, at the age of 101, here in my hometown of Sacramento. Just after I moved back here, I was introduced to his work by an old friend of mine. He proudly took me to the library of California State University where one of Thiebaud’s classic dessert paintings hung. 

What I didn’t realize at the time was how popular and respected this artist was, not only in this region, but also nationally and internationally. Wayne Thiebaud famously took a concept — food, especially desserts — and developed it into something that has made him famous and beloved for half a century. I found, though, that Wayne Thiebaud is much more than an artist who painted food.

Where to See Wayne Thiebaud's Paintings

Wayne Thiebaud’s painting style

At first glance, Thiebaud’s paintings may seem to be part of the Pop Art movement of the late 1950s and 60s. The repetition of everyday objects recalls the soup cans of Andy Warhol, for example. But some critics disagree with this categorization because the irony and criticism of commercialism behind Pop Art are absent in Thiebaud’s work, and because he apparently didn’t consider himself to be part of the movement. One article suggested that his work may have even influenced the Pop Art movement since he was depicting rows of everyday objects slightly before Pop Art.

Instead his work reflects a certain California air–sun, light, bright colors, and nostalgia for good times. In fact, an excellent Smithsonian Magazine piece about him points out that “he was turned off, he once said, by the ‘churchy feeling of a lot of New York painting,’ with all its elaborate theories and air of reverence.”

He tried New York City in 1956-57 but came back to California permanently. During his New York stay, his art became influenced by new friendships with abstract expressionist masters Franz Kline and Willem de Kooning. It was during this time that he began painting images of food displayed in windows in which he focused on the repetition of shape.

Where to See Wayne Thiebaud's Paintings

The appeal of Wayne Thiebaud’s paintings

Who doesn’t like to look at rows and rows of desserts? Such appeal has made his work timeless. But there’s more than first meets the eye. Like still-lifes of earlier centuries, the simple subjects of his paintings allowed him to experiment extensively with the aspects that make his work so fun to look at: shape, brushstroke, color, composition, and light. Perhaps the big bold brushstrokes and heavy application of paint are the best reasons to view his work in person.

Where to See Wayne Thiebaud's Paintings

However, Thiebaud didn’t paint just food. His body of work includes landscapes, striking paintings of women, and everyday objects like lipsticks and gumball machines.

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Wayne Thiebaud may be an American master, but for me, his local roots are especially interesting. He studied at California State University in Sacramento, near where he still lived decades later, and worked as a professor of art at two places that I have a personal connection to: first at Sacramento City College and then for 30 years at the University of California, Davis. (In fact, he taught there as professor emeritus until just recently and claimed to especially love teaching beginning drawing. What a treat for the students!)

Instead of moving on to a big city, Thiebaud chose a simple life of work and family. The typical cool, sunny mornings of Sacramento that I enjoy here are the same ones he used for daily tennis matches. The American River trails I walked last weekend are near his home. He enjoyed life in this lovely yet ever-changing city and apparently painted and played tennis right up until his death.

Where to See Wayne Thiebaud's Paintings

Where can you see the artist Wayne Thiebaud’s work?

It can be viewed as part of the permanent collection at the following American art museums:

Locally in his hometown of Sacramento at the Crocker Art Museum and California State University, Sacramento library gallery.

Elsewhere in the U.S.:

Art Institute Chicago, MOMA in New York City, the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco (the de Young and Legion of Honor), National Gallery of Art in D.C., MOMA in San Francisco, the Smithsonian American Art Museum in D.C., the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City, Cantor Center for Visual Arts at Stanford University, Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art in Kansas City, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Sheldon Museum of Art in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Photo credits: TorbakhopperMandy Jansen, CliffRocor, Adam KofordRocor on Flickr.

 
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9 Comments

  1. says: Barbara Balogh

    I truly enjoyed this article and the artwork displayed in it, Jenna. Until now I had never heard of Wayne Thiebaud but I will definitely be on the lookout should his work ever go on display in North Carolina. Dessert art, how clever and soothing to look at!

    1. says: Jenna

      Thanks, Barbara! I’m so glad you enjoyed it. 🙂 And I agree, there is something soothing bout his work. Almost like comfort food!

  2. says: Cindy

    Loved this post, Jenna! It was great to learn more about Wayne Thiebaud & be inspired to visit the Crocker again to see some of his paintings in person. I agree about the extra pleasure of looking at his desserts, especially the pieces of pie with those brush strokes all in the same direction. 🙂

  3. says: Murissa

    I really like these works as a foodie and an art enthusiast. The rich paint reminds me of icing upon the canvas.
    I have seen some sculptural works very similar to his style in the windows of San Francisco galleries – especially the area near Union Square. Could they be his or just the result of someone being inspired by his paintings? The sculpture was a slice of cake that looked very much like the first image of your post.

    Great post Jenna!

    1. says: Jenna

      Hmm! You have me curious about the sculpture, and I would guess that they are related since he’s so well known in N. Cal, but maybe not. Thanks for bringing that up. I’ll be on the look out for them next time I’m in SF.

  4. says: Christina

    Great post Jenna! I had no idea that Thiebaud was a Californian! Is he still actively painting or has he “retired”?

    I like that his paintings explore form, using desserts as a vehicle to play with brushstrokes, like you said.

  5. says: Pal

    Great profile! Interesting with the local touch, always fascinating knowing of someone who lives so nearby. It would be interesting hearing his personal view on his art, maybe you could knock on his door for an interview…? Of course, all depends on his health.

  6. says: Lizzie

    I love Thiebaud’s work – I remember studying his technique and concepts at college, learning how such a simple subject can have many layers. Thanks for the reminder about him!

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