Wayne Thiebaud is an American painter known for his paintings of everyday objects like cakes, pastries, and cosmetics. He uses thick paint and exaggerated colors to depict his subjects, making them appear 3D and realistic. Though associated with Pop art for his focus on mass culture items, Thiebaud began creating these works in the 1950s, just before the Pop art movement. He includes heavy shadows in the style of advertisements, informed by his early career in advertising design.