Wayne Thiebaud (American, b.1920), a painter best known for his
still lifes and
food displays, was born in Arizona, and made his career on the West Coast. Though Thiebaud is famous for his calm depictions of everyday objects, he also painted
Californian land and
cityscapes.
Thiebaud studied Commercial Art in school, and, after graduating college, was accepted as a professional cartoonist at Walt Disney Studios. His years as a cartoonist influenced his mature technique, a stylized realism depicting everyday objects and scenes. Although Thiebaud is often associated with the Pop Art movement, his work does not critique the iconic imagery of American society and consumer culture, but embraces it instead. Thiebaud also taught at the Sacramento Junior College and the University of California at Davis for many years. He currently lives and works in California.