San José Museum of Art

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Wayne Thiebaud: Seventy Years of Painting

  • Three slices of vibrant pink watermelon rest on white plates. The texture of the painted image is similar to frosting, the paint creating ridges and soft folds.

    Wayne Thiebaud
    Watermelon Slices, 1961
    Oil on canvas
    16 x 22 inches
    Private Collection

  • A painting of two women posed upright on their knees with their hands resting on their hips. One is wearing a yellow and orange one piece swimsuit, contrasting with the other woman's blue one piece. The women's facial expressions are stern.

    Wayne Thiebaud
    Two Kneeling Figures, 1966
    Oil on canvas
    60 x 72 inches
    Collection of Paul LeBaron Thiebaud

  • A painting of a yellow slot machine. Along the top of the machine are 3 silver stars and the symbols are based on fruit. The winning line does not have matching fruit. Painted on the belly of the machine is a large 5 with a cent sign. To the right are shadows cast from the machine.

    Wayne Thiebaud 

    Five Cent Machine, 2005

    Oil on canvas

    48 x 36 inches

    Private Collection

  • A painting of a display case filled with pastel colored donuts, layered cakes, and pies. Additionally there are little cupcakes or tartlets topped with frosting and cherries. On top is a tiered wedding cake, decorated with hearts and a small couple. Behind the case is a blank sea foam wall.

    Wayne Thiebaud
    Bakery Case, 1996
    Oil on canvas
    60 x 72 inches
    Thiebaud Family Collection

  • Two women in white leotards with yellow trim hold batons in the air, smiling. Their cast shadows contrast strongly with the pale background. The shadows across the figure’s bodies dance from purple to blue to green.

    Wayne Thiebaud

    Majorettes, 1962

    Oil on canvas

    36 × 48 inches

    Private Collection

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    Wayne Thiebaud’s lushly painted glimpses of everyday life—from a slice of pie to a steep San Francisco streetscape—are icons of American Pop Art. This exhibition spans the course of his prolific career, from the early paintings he made as a young student to the vibrant beach scenes on which Thiebaud, now 89, has been working most recently. The exhibition features many of Thiebaud’s most popular images and includes favorites from his personal holdings. Nearly a third of the works date from the last decade. Wayne Thiebaud is a tribute to this Bay Area master and the inspiring momentum of his life as a painter.

    Click here to watch Wayne Thiebaud in conversation with Susan Krane, Oshman Executive Director. April 1, 2010.

    Sponsors

    • Myra Reinhard Family Foundation
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