ExhibitionFebruary 3, 2023
Wayne Thiebaud at Fondation Beyeler
The Fondation Beyeler is devoting a retrospective to the American painter Wayne Thiebaud (1920–2021). Largely unknown in Europe, Thiebaud has long been popular in the United States. The exhibition has been curated by Dr. Ulf Küster, the Senior Curator at the Fondation Beyeler, and the Assistant Curator, Charlotte Sarrazin.
Thiebaud initially started out as a graphic designer and briefly worked for Walt Disney Studios’ animation department; he depicted the promise and profusion of the “American way of life” in his paintings of cream cakes, pie slices, candies, slot machines, and cupcakes. At first glance, one notes the motifs lifted from everyday life; in this sense, Thiebaud was an exponent of pop art. Yet looking more closely, every motif dissolves into a broad spectrum of countless colors and shades, which are only taken as a whole to produce a recognizable image. Thiebaud’s art thus centers less on subject matter than on the manner of painting.
Next to such still lifes, the exhibition features people, figure paintings, and multi-perspective cityscapes and landscapes, showcasing the painter’s versatility and technique. His sophisticated use of color creates a distinctive atmosphere that balances nostalgia, melancholy, irony, and humor.
Featuring 65 works on loan from mainly American museums and private collections, this retrospective presents the key periods of the artist’s oil and acrylic paintings and drawings.
Thiebaud initially started out as a graphic designer and briefly worked for Walt Disney Studios’ animation department; he depicted the promise and profusion of the “American way of life” in his paintings of cream cakes, pie slices, candies, slot machines, and cupcakes. At first glance, one notes the motifs lifted from everyday life; in this sense, Thiebaud was an exponent of pop art. Yet looking more closely, every motif dissolves into a broad spectrum of countless colors and shades, which are only taken as a whole to produce a recognizable image. Thiebaud’s art thus centers less on subject matter than on the manner of painting.
Next to such still lifes, the exhibition features people, figure paintings, and multi-perspective cityscapes and landscapes, showcasing the painter’s versatility and technique. His sophisticated use of color creates a distinctive atmosphere that balances nostalgia, melancholy, irony, and humor.
Featuring 65 works on loan from mainly American museums and private collections, this retrospective presents the key periods of the artist’s oil and acrylic paintings and drawings.
Gallery
