With a painting career spanning over eighty years, Wayne Thiebaud’s oeuvre includes vibrantly luscious depictions of sweets and Americana foodstuffs, non-emotive figures, winding riverscapes, vertiginous cityscapes, vast mountainscapes, and emotive clowns.
“A conscious decision to eliminate certain details and include selective bits of personal experiences or perceptual nuances, gives the painting more of a multi-dimension than when it is done directly as a visual recording,” he reflected. “This results in a kind of abstraction, and thus avoids the pitfalls of mere decoration.”
"If you stare at an object, as you do when you paint, there is no point at which you stop learning things from it."
WAYNE THIEBAUD
1920–2021
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2023
Thiebaud, Paul Thiebaud Gallery, San Francisco, CA and Tasende Gallery, La Jolla, CA
2020-2022
Wayne Thiebaud 100, organized by the Crocker Art Museum, Sacramento, CA. Traveled to Toledo Museum of Art, Toledo, OH; Dixon Gallery and Garden, Memphis, TN; McNay Museum, San Antonio, TX; Brandywine River Museum, Chadds Ford, PA
2019
Wayne Thiebaud: Clowns, Paul Thiebaud Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2018
Wayne Thiebaud: Monotypes, Paul Thiebaud Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2016
Wayne Thiebaud, Paul Thiebaud Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2015
Wayne Thiebaud, Paul Thiebaud Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2013
Wayne Thiebaud: Memory Mountains, Paul Thiebaud Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2010
Wayne Thiebaud: Works on Paper, Sacramento State University Library Gallery, Sacramento, CA
Wayne Thiebaud, Paul Thiebaud Gallery, New York, NY
Wayne Thiebaud: Charcoal Still Lifes 1964-1974, Lawrence Markey, Inc., San Antonio, TX; Paul Thiebaud Gallery, San Francisco, CA; Paul Thiebaud Gallery, New York, NY.
2009–2010
Wayne Thiebaud, Faggionato Fine Arts, London, England; Paul Thiebaud Gallery, New York, NY
2009
Wayne Thiebaud: Confection Memories, Paul Thiebaud Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2007–2010
Wayne Thiebaud: 70 Years of Painting, organized by the Laguna Art Museum, Laguna Beach, CA. Traveled to: Springville Museum of Art, Springville, UT; Palm Springs Art Museum, Palm Springs, CA; Loveland Museum/Gallery, Loveland, CO; Pasadena Museum of California Art, Pasadena, CA; San Jose Museum of Art, San Jose, CA.
2003
Wayne Thiebaud: Works from 1955–2003, Frederick R. Weisman Museum of Art, Pepperdine University, Malibu, CA (January 11 – March 23). Traveled to: University Library Gallery at California State University Sacramento, Sacramento, CA (April 4 – July 25). Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, Kansas City, MO (summer exhibition).
2002–2003
Riverscapes, Paul Thiebaud Gallery, San Francisco, CA. Traveled to: Allan Stone Gallery, New York, NY (February 5 – March 22); Faggionato Fine Arts, London, England (April 8 – May 24).
2000–2001
Wayne Thiebaud: Pastels 1960–2000, Campbell-Thiebaud Gallery, San Francisco, CA
A Paintings Retrospective, organized by the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, California Palace of the Legion of Honor, San Francisco, CA. Traveled to: Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, Fort Worth, TX; The Phillips Collection, Washington, DC; Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, NY
1999
Simple Delights, Campbell-Thiebaud Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA
1997
Wayne Thiebaud: Landscapes, Campbell-Thiebaud Gallery, San Francisco, CA
1993
Wayne Thiebaud: Figure Drawings, Campbell-Thiebaud Gallery, San Francisco, CA
Wayne Thiebaud: Cityscapes, Campbell-Thiebaud Gallery, San Francisco, CA
1994
Wayne Thiebaud: Celebrating 33 Years Together, Allan Stone Gallery, New York, NY
1988
Wayne Thiebaud: Prints and Other Rarities, Charles Campbell Gallery, San Francisco, CA
1985
Wayne Thiebaud, organized by the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art to celebrate its 50th anniversary. Traveled to: Newport Harbor Art Museum, Newport Beach, CA (1986); Milwaukee Art Museum, Milwaukee, WI (1986); Columbus Museum of Art, Columbus, OH (1986); The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, MO (1986).
1971
Wayne Thiebaud Graphics: 1964–1971, Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, NY (organized by Parasol Press, Ltd., New York). Traveled to: William Rockhill Nelson Gallery and Atkins Museum of Fine Arts (now The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art), Kansas City, MO; Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, DC (1972); Fort Wayne Museum of Art, TX (1972); Fort Worth Center Museum (now Fort Worth Art Museum), TX (1972); Des Moines Art Center, Des Moines, IA (1972); Achenbach Foundation for Graphic Arts, California Palace of the Legion of Honor, San Francisco, CA (1972); Wadsworth Atheneum, Hartford, CT (1972); Baltimore Museum, Baltimore, MD (1972); Phoenix Art Museum, Phoenix, AZ (1973); Wallraf-Ritchartz Museum, Cologne, West Germany (1975); Arnolfini Gallery, Bristol, England (1976); Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, New York (1979).
1965
Prints, Drawings and Paintings by Wayne Thiebaud, San Francisco Museum of Art (now San Francisco Museum of Modern Art), San Francisco, CA
Wayne Thiebaud, Allan Stone Gallery, New York, NY
Figures: Thiebaud, Stanford Art Museum (now Stanford Museum and Art Gallery), Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Delights, E.B. Crocker Art Gallery, Sacramento, CA
1962
Wayne Thiebaud: Recent Paintings, Allan Stone Gallery, New York, NY
An Exhibition of Paintings by Wayne Thiebaud, M.H. de Young Memorial Museum, San Francisco, CA
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS CONTINUED
2000–2001
Wayne Thiebaud: Pastels 1960–2000, Campbell-Thiebaud Gallery, San Francisco, CA
A Paintings Retrospective, organized by the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, California Palace of the Legion of Honor, San Francisco, CA. Traveled to: Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, Fort Worth, TX; The Phillips Collection, Washington, DC; Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, NY
1999
Simple Delights, Campbell-Thiebaud Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA
1997
Wayne Thiebaud: Landscapes, Campbell-Thiebaud Gallery, San Francisco, CA
1993
Wayne Thiebaud: Figure Drawings, Campbell-Thiebaud Gallery, San Francisco, CA
Wayne Thiebaud: Cityscapes, Campbell-Thiebaud Gallery, San Francisco, CA
1994
Wayne Thiebaud: Celebrating 33 Years Together, Allan Stone Gallery, New York, NY
1988
Wayne Thiebaud: Prints and Other Rarities, Charles Campbell Gallery, San Francisco, CA
1985
Wayne Thiebaud, organized by the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art to celebrate its 50th anniversary. Traveled to: Newport Harbor Art Museum, Newport Beach, CA (1986); Milwaukee Art Museum, Milwaukee, WI (1986); Columbus Museum of Art, Columbus, OH (1986); The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, MO (1986).
1971
Wayne Thiebaud Graphics: 1964–1971, Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, NY (organized by Parasol Press, Ltd., New York). Traveled to: William Rockhill Nelson Gallery and Atkins Museum of Fine Arts (now The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art), Kansas City, MO; Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, DC (1972); Fort Wayne Museum of Art, TX (1972); Fort Worth Center Museum (now Fort Worth Art Museum), TX (1972); Des Moines Art Center, Des Moines, IA (1972); Achenbach Foundation for Graphic Arts, California Palace of the Legion of Honor, San Francisco, CA (1972); Wadsworth Atheneum, Hartford, CT (1972); Baltimore Museum, Baltimore, MD (1972); Phoenix Art Museum, Phoenix, AZ (1973); Wallraf-Ritchartz Museum, Cologne, West Germany (1975); Arnolfini Gallery, Bristol, England (1976); Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, New York (1979).
1965
Prints, Drawings and Paintings by Wayne Thiebaud, San Francisco Museum of Art (now San Francisco Museum of Modern Art), San Francisco, CA
Wayne Thiebaud, Allan Stone Gallery, New York, NY
Figures: Thiebaud, Stanford Art Museum (now Stanford Museum and Art Gallery), Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Delights, E.B. Crocker Art Gallery, Sacramento, CA
1962
Wayne Thiebaud: Recent Paintings, Allan Stone Gallery, New York, NY
An Exhibition of Paintings by Wayne Thiebaud, M.H. de Young Memorial Museum, San Francisco, CA
SELECTED HONORS & AWARDS
2017
Receives The Gold Medal for Painting, American Academy of Arts and Letters, New York, NY
2010
Inducted into The California Hall of Fame 2010, The California Museum, Sacramento, CA
2007
Receives Bay Area Treasure Award from the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, San Francisco, CA
2004
Receives nomination for the Gold Medal for Graphic Art from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, New York, NY
Receives Distinguished Artist Award for Lifetime Achievement from the College Art Association, New York, NY
2001
Receives Lifetime Achievement Award for Art from the American Academy of Design, New York, NY
2000
Receives Medal for Painting from the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture, New York, NY
1996
Receives The Gold Medal for Lifetime Achievement in the Arts Award from the National Arts Club, New York, NY
1994
Receives National Medal of Arts from President William Jefferson Clinton