Wayne Theibaud
Wayne Theibaud is American and is a contemporary artist. He is well-known for his paintings
of production line objects that are found in diners and cafeterias, such as cakes, pies and
pastries. Thiebaud uses heavy pigment and exaggerated colours to depict his subjects
and the well-defined shadows are characteristic of his work. His multi-diametral pieces are
painted mainly from memory in an abstract context. He uses multiple colours in the
shadowing of the object to give an effect of ‘vibration’. Although people have defined his
work as being influenced by the pop art movement, Wayne says that he is just an old-
fashioned painter.
He got his inspiration from a leave of absence during 1956–1957, he spent time in New York
City, where he became friends with Elaine and Willem de Kooning and Franz Kline and was
much influenced by these abstractionists as well as by proto-pop artists Robert
Rauschenberg and Jasper Johns.
The style of his artwork is semi-realistic and makes me feel hungry, as it looks so luxurious
and detailed. I think he is successful in the fact that he has used a significant range of visual
element throughout his work to make it semi-realistic. He could improve his work by doing a
range of objects other than food.
Wayne Theibaud is American and is a contemporary artist. He is well-known for his paintings
of production line objects that are found in diners and cafeterias, such as cakes, pies and
pastries. Thiebaud uses heavy pigment and exaggerated colours to depict his subjects
and the well-defined shadows are characteristic of his work. His multi-diametral pieces are
painted mainly from memory in an abstract context. He uses multiple colours in the
shadowing of the object to give an effect of ‘vibration’. Although people have defined his
work as being influenced by the pop art movement, Wayne says that he is just an old-
fashioned painter.
He got his inspiration from a leave of absence during 1956–1957, he spent time in New York
City, where he became friends with Elaine and Willem de Kooning and Franz Kline and was
much influenced by these abstractionists as well as by proto-pop artists Robert
Rauschenberg and Jasper Johns.
The style of his artwork is semi-realistic and makes me feel hungry, as it looks so luxurious
and detailed. I think he is successful in the fact that he has used a significant range of visual
element throughout his work to make it semi-realistic. He could improve his work by doing a
range of objects other than food.
