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Wayne Thiebaud Art

American, 1920-2021

Wayne Thiebaud’s pastel-hued still-life paintings and prints of baked goods, gumball machines, hot dogs and paint cans are often associated with the Pop art movement, thanks to the mass-cultural appeal of their content. Stylistically, however, Thiebaud eschewed the precision found in the art of such Pop giants as Roy Lichtenstein and Andy Warhol in favor of a more painterly approach, not unlike that of the Italian modernist Giorgio Morandi, whose dreamy paintings of vessels and household objects are simple yet richly atmospheric.

Thiebaud was born in Mesa, Arizona, in 1920 and grew up in Southern California from the age of six months. As a high schooler, he had a summer apprenticeship at Walt Disney Studios, which led to a stint as a graphic artist in the U.S. Army Air Forces’ First Motion Picture Unit during World War II. After the war, he attended the California State College at Sacramento on the G.I. Bill, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in 1951 and earning a master’s soon after. He went on to teach at the University of California, Davis, from 1960 to ’91.

In the late ’50s, time spent living in New York City proved crucial to Thiebaud’s career. There, he befriended Abstract Expressionist painters Willem de Kooning and Franz Kline and drew inspiration from the work of Jasper Johns and Robert Rauschenberg. Admiring the color and form on display in New York’s many bakeries, he began painting small canvases featuring rows of treats, which would become one of his central subjects. Though Thiebaud himself doesn’t identify as a Pop artist, the first major exhibition that brought him national renown was a seminal 1962 Pop show at the Sidney Janis Gallery in Manhattan. That same year, he was included in "New Painting of Common Objects” at the Norton Simon Museum of Art at Pasadena, which also featured paintings by Ed Ruscha and Jim Dine. Iconic works such as Pie Counter (1963) demonstrate Thiebaud’s signature treatment of commonplace items with the grandeur and scale of a landscape.

Thiebaud’s interest in exaggerated colors and vernacular subject matter — characteristics that call to mind images found in mid-century advertising — made him an intriguing figure occupying the hazy borderlands between fine and commercial art. Yet through a masterful handling of paint, evocative use of light and poignant sense of isolation, Thiebaud’s work is unquestionably thoughtful and singular. His later forays into landscape painting, as seen in Steep Street (1989) or Country City (1988), bring to bear his bold use of color on complex urban scenes.

Pieces by Thiebaud can be found in the collections of major museums, including the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, among many others. In 1994, he was awarded the National Medal of Arts by President Bill Clinton.

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Artist: Wayne Thiebaud
Bakery Case
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in Central, HK
Wayne Thiebaud Bakery Case, 2018 Offset lithographic poster in colours on smooth wove paper 22 × 24 3/5 in 55.8 × 62.6 cm Wayne Thiebaud is famous for his colorful paintings of mouthwatering cakes, pies, pastries, and everyday items. While his work enjoys a broad appeal and evokes a distinctly American nostalgia, Thiebaud’s complex depictions of light and shadow give depth and strangeness to his deceptively simple compositions. His canvases share affinities with both early Pop art and a longer tradition of still-life painting. At auction, Thiebaud’s paintings regularly sell for...
Category

2010s Wayne Thiebaud Art

Materials

Paper

Woman in Tub (1965)
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in Central, HK
Wayne Thiebaud Woman in Tub (1965), 2022 12-colour glicee print on uncoated paper made of 100% cotton fibres, 270g/m2, age resistant, acid-free, light-res...
Category

2010s Wayne Thiebaud Art

Materials

Archival Paper

Wayne Thiebaud - Fruits, Vegetables, Melons, 2008 / 2023
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in Central, HK
Wayne Thiebaud Fruits, Vegetables, Melons, 2008 / 2023 Screenprint on maple wood 31 1/2 × 7 9/10 × 3/10 in | 80 × 20 × 0.7 cm Edition of 100
Category

2010s Wayne Thiebaud Art

Materials

Wood, Maple

Paint Cans
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in Palm Desert, CA
"Paint Cans" is a lithograph in colors on wove paper made in 1990 by Wayne Thiebaud. The work is number 13 from an edition of 100. The work is signed in pencil, lower right, "Thiebau...
Category

Late 20th Century Pop Art Wayne Thiebaud Art

Materials

Lithograph

Suckers State I
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in New York, NY
A very good impression of this lithograph on Rives BFK. Signed, inscribed "state I" and numbered 111/150 in pencil. Printed and published by Gemini G.E.L., Los Angeles, with the blin...
Category

1960s Pop Art Wayne Thiebaud Art

Materials

Lithograph

Suckers State I - American Candy Lollipops Summer Treats Pop Art Black and White
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in London, GB
WAYNE THIEBAUD 1920-2021 Mesa, Arizona 1920-2021 Sacramento, California (American) Title: Suckers I, 1967 Technique: Original Hand Signed, Inscribed and Numbered Lithograph on BFK ...
Category

1960s Pop Art Wayne Thiebaud Art

Materials

Lithograph

Pie Case
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in New York, NY
Wayne THIEBAUD Pie Case, 1964 Edition AP Drypoint on BFK Rives paper Image: 3 7/8 x 4 7/8 in. Sheet: 15 x 11 in. Signed in pencil, dated and inscribed "artist's proof" aside from th...
Category

1960s Pop Art Wayne Thiebaud Art

Materials

Drypoint

Wayne Thiebaud 'Hill River' 2002
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in Miami, FL
Wayne Thiebaud's 'Hill River' is a 2002 drypoint and aquatint in color on wove paper. The dimensions of the full sheet measure at 21.25 x 30.5 inches. This print is signed in pencil,...
Category

Early 2000s Contemporary Wayne Thiebaud Art

Materials

Aquatint

Wayne Thiebaud 'River Turns' 1998/2011
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in Miami, FL
Wayne Thiebaud's 'River Turns' is a 1998/2011 etching in color. The dimensions of the full sheet measure at 15 x 20 inches. This print is signed in pencil, dated and numbered '3/40 R...
Category

1990s Contemporary Wayne Thiebaud Art

Materials

Aquatint

Night River
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in New York, NY
Wayne THIEBAUD Night River, 1998/2011 Hard ground etching with drypoint and aquatint printed in blue and black, ed. 9 of 40 15 x 20 in. (unframed)
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art Wayne Thiebaud Art

Materials

Etching, Aquatint, Drypoint

Invisible Cities.
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in New York, NY
THIEBAUD, Wayne. Invisible Cities. Text by Italo Calvino. Translated from the Italian with a new introduction by William Weaver. 164 pp. Illustra...
Category

1990s Wayne Thiebaud Art

Materials

Paper

"Italian Desserts, " Etching signed by Wayne Thiebaud
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in Milwaukee, WI
An etching in red by American pop artist Wayne Thiebaud depicting six Italian desserts. This is #16 from the edition of 50. It is signed and dated in pencil lower right, and numbered...
Category

1970s Contemporary Wayne Thiebaud Art

Materials

Etching

Chocolate Pie
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in London, GB
Woodcut on wove paper Edition of 10 Signed and dated.
Category

Early 2000s Pop Art Wayne Thiebaud Art

Materials

Woodcut

Dark Cupcakes and Donuts
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in Palo Alto, CA
Created in 2006, this direct gravure on gampi chine collé wove paper is hand-signed by Wayne Thiebaud (Mesa, 1920 - Sacramento, 2021) in pencil in the lower right margin. Numbered fr...
Category

Early 2000s Modern Wayne Thiebaud Art

Materials

Engraving

Hot Chocolate
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in Palo Alto, CA
Created in 2002, this direct etching with drypoint printed in brown hand-signed by Wayne Thiebaud (Mesa, 1920 - Sacramento, 2021) in pencil in the lower right margin and is numbered ...
Category

2010s Modern Wayne Thiebaud Art

Materials

Drypoint, Etching

Dark Hill River
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in Palo Alto, CA
The Sacramento River deltas and levees near Thiebaud’s studio became a source of inspiration starting in the mid-1990s where he would sketch en plein air and then work combined ideas...
Category

Early 2000s Modern Wayne Thiebaud Art

Materials

Engraving, Drypoint, Aquatint

Hill River
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in Palo Alto, CA
Created in 2002, this Wayne Thiebaud Hill River, 2002 drypoint and aquatint in color on wove paper is hand signed by Wayne Thiebaud (Mesa, 1920 - Sacramento, 2021) in pencil in the l...
Category

Early 2000s Modern Wayne Thiebaud Art

Materials

Drypoint, Aquatint

Dark Cakes and Pies
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in Palo Alto, CA
Created in 2006, this direct gravure on gampi paper chine collé is hand-signed and dated by Wayne Thiebaud (Mesa, 1920 - Sacramento, 2021) in pencil in the lower right margin and num...
Category

Early 2000s Pop Art Wayne Thiebaud Art

Materials

Engraving

Clown, from Recent Etchings I
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in Palo Alto, CA
Created in 1979, this etching and aquatint on Somerset paper is hand-signed by Wayne Thiebaud (Mesa, 1920 - Sacramento, 2021) in pencil in the lower right margin and is numbered from...
Category

1970s Modern Wayne Thiebaud Art

Materials

Etching, Aquatint

Steep Street
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in Palo Alto, CA
Created in 1989, this aquatint and drypoint on paper is hand-signed by Wayne Thiebaud (Mesa, 1920 - Sacramento, 2021) in pencil in the lower right margin. Numbered from the edition o...
Category

1980s Modern Wayne Thiebaud Art

Materials

Drypoint, Aquatint

SILVER LANDSCAPE
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in New York, NY
This Silkscreen on three colors is a A.P. edition of 50 depicting a silver landscape
Category

1970s Contemporary Wayne Thiebaud Art

Materials

Color

Olives
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in New York, NY
Included in the artist’s early, renown Delights suite, Wayne Thiebaud created Olives in 1964 as an original etching, the artwork hand-signed, titled, dated and numbered in pencil. T...
Category

20th Century Wayne Thiebaud Art

Materials

Etching

Suckers
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in New York, NY
An early and iconic image by Wayne Thiebaud, Suckers, State I is a timeless work of art, created by the artist in 1968. An original one-color lithograph measuring 16 x 22 in. (40.6 ...
Category

20th Century Wayne Thiebaud Art

Materials

Lithograph

Peppermints
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in New York, NY
Etching on BFK Rives paper
Category

1640s Wayne Thiebaud Art

Materials

Etching

Dark Gumball Machine
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in New York, NY
Wayne Thiebaud Dark Gumball Machine, 1964/ 2017 Hard ground and soft ground etching 18h x 12w in
Category

1660s Post-War Wayne Thiebaud Art

Materials

Etching

Suckers State I, 1968
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in New York, NY
Suckers State I, 1968 One-color lithograph on Rives BFK paper 16 x 22 in. (40.6 x 55.9 cm) Edition of 150 Signed, dated and numbered in pencil, lower margin
Category

1960s Wayne Thiebaud Art

Materials

Lithograph

Little Red Suckers, 1971/2014
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in New York, NY
Little Red Suckers, 1971/2014 Aquatint in red, on Somerset paper 10 1/8 x 10 1/2 in. (25.7 x 26.7 cm) Edition of 35 Signed, dated and numbered in pencil, lower margin
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Wayne Thiebaud Art

Materials

Aquatint

Snack Bar, 2017
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in New York, NY
Snack Bar, 2017 Color sugar lift aquatint with drypoint 7 1/2 x 17 1/2 in. (19.1 x 44.5 cm) Edition of 35 Signed, dated and numbered in pencil, lower margin
Category

2010s Wayne Thiebaud Art

Materials

Drypoint, Aquatint

Cherry Cakes (Recent Etchings II), 1979
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in New York, NY
Cherry Cakes (Recent Etchings II), 1979 Etching and aquatint 22 3/4 x 29 3/4 in. (57.8 x 75.6 cm) Edition of 50 Signed, dated and numbered in pencil, lowe...
Category

1970s Wayne Thiebaud Art

Materials

Etching, Aquatint

Crown Tart, 2015
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in New York, NY
Crown Tart, 2015 Direct gravure printed in brown 21 x 20 in. (53.3 x 50.8 cm) Edition of 35 Signed, dated and numbered in pencil, lower margin
Category

2010s Wayne Thiebaud Art

Materials

Intaglio

City Views
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in San Francisco, CA
Original lithograph printed in colors on wove paper. A superb, unsigned proof impression, apart from the signed and numbered edition of 35. Published by Paul Thiebaud Gallery...
Category

2010s Post-War Wayne Thiebaud Art

Materials

Lithograph

Dark Cake
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in New York, NY
1983 Woodcut in colors, on Tosa Koza paper S. 20 3/8 x 22 3/8 in. (51.8 x 56.8 cm) Edition of 200 Signed, dated and numbered in pencil, lower margin
Category

1980s Pop Art Wayne Thiebaud Art

Materials

Woodcut

Tulip Sundae
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
Best known for his paintings of cakes, pies, pastries, and toys, Wayne Thiebaud hadn’t planned on becoming a visual artist. He apprenticed as a cartoonist at Walt Disney studios and ...
Category

2010s Wayne Thiebaud Art

Materials

Drypoint, Aquatint

River Turns
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
Wayne Thiebaud has long been recognized as one of America’s most prominent modern artists. Probably best known for his straightforward, deadpan still-life paintings of the 1960s, and...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art Wayne Thiebaud Art

Materials

Drypoint, Etching

Dark Cake
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in New York, NY
1983 Woodcut in colors, on Japon paper Sheet: 20 3/8 x 22 3/8 in. Edition of 200 Signed, dated and numbered in pencil Framed
Category

1980s Pop Art Wayne Thiebaud Art

Materials

Woodcut

Tulip Sundae
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
Best known for his paintings of cakes, pies, pastries, and toys, Wayne Thiebaud hadn’t planned on becoming a visual artist. He apprenticed as a cartoonist at Walt Disney studios and ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Wayne Thiebaud Art

Materials

Etching, Aquatint

Heart Ridge
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
The images in Wayne Thiebaud's drypoints fill the space around them, carving into it. They are images of mountains. In one, only the mountaintop shows and a gigantic cloud is in the ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Wayne Thiebaud Art

Materials

Drypoint, Etching

Cone
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
Signed, dated, and numbered in pencil.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art Wayne Thiebaud Art

Materials

Etching

Suckers State I
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in New York, NY
1968 One-color lithograph Sheet: 16 x 22 in. (40.6 x 55.9 cm) Edition of 150 + 10AP Signed, dated and numbered in pencil Unframed, mint condition
Category

1960s Pop Art Wayne Thiebaud Art

Materials

Lithograph

"Gold Dredgers" Sacramento, Watercolor by Wayne Thiebaud
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Wayne Thiebaud, American (1920 - ) Title: "Gold Dredger" Sacramento Year: circa 1956 Medium: Watercolor on paper Signature: Signed and titled in pencil Image Size: 9 x 20.5 ...
Category

1950s American Modern Wayne Thiebaud Art

Materials

Watercolor

Theater Marquee, Early Lithograph by Wayne Thiebaud 1956
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Wayne Thiebaud, American (1920 - ) Title: Theater Marquee Year: 1956 Medium: Lithograph Signature: Signed, titled, numbered, and dated in penci...
Category

1950s Modern Wayne Thiebaud Art

Materials

Lithograph

City Edge
By Wayne Thiebaud
Located in New York, NY
An iconic image of his native Northern California, Wayne Thiebaud created City Edge as a color aquatint in 1988, the artwork hand-signed, dated and numbered in pencil measuring 19 5/...
Category

20th Century Contemporary Wayne Thiebaud Art

Materials

Aquatint

Wayne Thiebaud art for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Wayne Thiebaud art available for sale on 1stDibs. If you’re browsing the collection of art to introduce a pop of color in a neutral corner of your living room or bedroom, you can find work that includes elements of blue, orange, purple and other colors. You can also browse by medium to find art by Wayne Thiebaud in etching, aquatint, engraving and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 20th century and is mostly associated with the Pop Art style. Not every interior allows for large Wayne Thiebaud art, so small editions measuring 8 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Romare Bearden, Saul Steinberg, and Nicholas Krushenick. Wayne Thiebaud art prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $1,800 and tops out at $2,900,000, while the average work can sell for $13,500.

Artists Similar to Wayne Thiebaud

Questions About Wayne Thiebaud Art
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    Wayne Thiebaud became interested in art he saw in the world around him as a child. When he was a teenager, he made money designing posters for a cinema in his town. He received his formal education from Long Beach Polytechnic High School and the Frank Wiggins Trade School in Los Angeles. On 1stDibs, shop a range of Wayne Thiebaud art.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Wayne Thiebaud is often associated with the pop art movement because he focused on common objects. His particular style predates the pop art movement, which accounts for the sometimes classification and the influences of modern art in his work as well. On 1stDibs, find a variety of original artwork from top artists.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    Wayne Thiebaud used oil paints, pastels and charcoal to produce his paintings. In addition to painting, the artist produced etches, lithographs, linocuts and silkscreens. His paintings of pastries and landscapes are especially well known. Shop a range of Wayne Thiebaud art on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 15, 2024
    Wayne Thiebaud used a variety of mediums to produce his paintings, drawings and prints. The brilliant late artist worked in charcoal, graphite, ballpoint, oil paint, ink, colored pencil, watercolor, pastel and gouache. He is best known for his works depicting everyday objects, such as cosmetics, desserts and paint cans. On 1stDibs, find a selection of Wayne Thiebaud art.

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