A Seller's Guide To Wayne Thiebaud

Thiebaud's artistic journey unfolded against the backdrop of World War II, a period dominated by abstract expressionism. Despite his connections to artists of that movement, Thiebaud's inclination toward figuration aligned more closely with American Pop Art. His fascination with this aesthetic emerged early, influenced by his apprenticeship at Walt Disney Studios and later work as a cartoonist for the King Features Syndicate in New York. While his focus on everyday objects associates him with Pop Art, Thiebaud's approach diverged with its emphasis on traditional techniques and personal subject matter. Thiebaud's painterly technique infused his subjects—ranging from sweets and arcade machines to landscapes and occasionally people—with a tangible quality enticing viewers with its tactile allure.

Thiebaud’s Confectionery Sweets

The worth of Thiebaud prints can fluctuate significantly based on standard factors influencing print value such as edition size, rarity in the market, and demand. Thiebaud's repertoire spans various mediums, including paintings, works on paper, limited editions and on-editions. Many of his limited edition prints originate from private collections or museums, often mirroring his renowned paintings. For instance, Double Deckers (1964) fetched over £7,000 at Christie’s in 2018, while Three Ice Cream Cones (1964) soared to £4 million at the same auction house in 2022. Candy Counter (1970), another coveted print, has seen escalating prices at auction, from £1,000 in 1995 to over £6,000 in 2023. Thiebaud's acclaimed paintings, Candy Counter (1969) and Encased Cakes (2010-2011), achieved remarkable sums of £11.8 million and £8.5 million, respectively, reflecting their esteemed status.

Thiebaud’s Landscapes and City Views

Also influencing the value of Thiebaud prints is the subject matter depicted. While Thiebaud is renowned for his portrayals of sweet confections and arcade games, which typically command high prices at auctions, prints and originals, his oeuvre encompasses a variety of subjects. Thiebaud's repertoire also includes landscapes and city views, an ode to his time spent in the San Francisco Valley of California and Mesa, Arizona, portraying the steep hills and mountains from a birds eye view. River And Farms (2002) is a rare example, fetching £4,800 with fees in its most recent sale in February 2024. Conversely, Hill Street (1971) highlights the demand for city views, with a limited edition print achieving £23,000 in 2021, its most recent sale. The painting version of this print sold for a record £4.8 million in 2014.

Thiebaud Standard Editions Versus Unique Editions

In Thiebaud’s print market there are often instance where Special Edition prints, set apart from standard editions, often feature signatures and markings in distinct locations. For instance, in Thiebaud’s market, Candy Apples (1987) recently achieved a record price, with an Artist Proof (AP) edition selling for over £71,000 at Sotheby’s. In contrast, the standard edition, numbered 106/200, sold at Phillips' April sale for £30,641. These distinctions underscore the unique dynamics of the prints market. While these subtleties may differ across artists, each artist's market possesses its own characteristics. Therefore, comprehending the intricacies of print production and their impact on the value of a specific artist's market is essential when contemplating a sale.

Read Case Study: How To Value Prints & Editions With Art Tech to learn more about our technology.

Thiebaud's print oeuvre comprises both editioned pieces and distinctive hand-finished prints, each featuring diverse numbering and signatures crucial for understanding and confirming their authenticity. For instance, Jawbreaker Machine (AP) (1990) achieved a record price of £370,726 at Christie’s in 2022. This particular print is hand-finished in pastel and although marked AP, it is classified as a non-editioned, hence lacks numbering. Instead, it features ‘Thiebaud 1990’ in the lower right-hand corner with a red heart sketched by the ‘T’. These details substantially elevate the value when authenticating a Thiebaud print, crucial for potential sellers, and can delineate the clientele interested in acquiring rare editions.

Similarly, both Three Pies (1964) and Cigars (1980-1994) represent distinctive editions, each marked with specific inscriptions and signatures. Cigars, labelled as a 'Colour Trial Proof' and bearing a red heart by the signature, aids in authentication. Although unnumbered, it falls outside the primary edition of 50 and commands a premium price. Likewise, Three Pies is marked as a 'Colour Trail AP' and is also unnumbered but commands a premium. Unlike Cigars, the signature on this print lacks a red heart. While all Thiebaud prints feature signatures, there are nuances. Unique special editions may or may not include a hand-finished red heart near the signature, whereas standard editions might include a pencil-drawn heart. These subtleties, including familiarity with the artist's signature placement and the prints available in standard versus unique editions aids in authenticating the work.

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The Wayne Thiebaud Foundation And Gallery Representation

Although not involved in authenticating artworks, The Wayne Thiebaud Foundation dedicates itself to preserving and promoting Thiebaud’s artistic legacy by donating and loaning works to educational and research institutions. Managed by Matt Bult and his wife, Maria Bult, the foundation serves as a crucial resource for scholars and enthusiasts alike. Thiebaud's early association with art dealer Allan Stone, whom he befriended in 1961, significantly impacted his career with a breakout solo show in 1962 that propelled him to success. Stone, who served as Thiebaud's dealer until his passing in 2006, played a pivotal role in propelling his work into the spotlight. Thiebaud has long been represented by Aquavella and has associations with other reputable galleries like Berggruen and White Cube. Often, the provenance of Thiebaud's artworks can be traced back to the Bult's, Stone, or one of these esteemed galleries, serving as a crucial factor in authenticating the provenance of the artwork. Documentation, such as original invoices, certificates of authenticity (COAs), or exhibition records, can further enhance the value of your print.

The condition of your print significantly influences its value, as buyers typically prefer prints free from wear, fading, or damage. To maintain your print's condition, handle it with clean hands while wearing art handling cotton gloves. Store artworks in a dry, temperature-controlled environment, mounted on acid-free paper, and protected behind UV-resistant glass. Avoid exposing your print to direct sunlight or extreme temperatures, which can cause irreparable harm. If unsure about the print’s condition, seek guidance from a professional conservator for potential restoration measures before selling.

Regularly inspect your print for deterioration and consider professional cleaning or restoration if necessary to prevent damage. Over time, prints may naturally wear, and in such cases, consulting a specialist conservator is advisable to address any damage and restore the print. For detailed care and restoration guidance, refer to our comprehensive guide.

When contemplating selling your Thiebaud print, seeking guidance from an expert in Thiebaud’s artwork is invaluable, especially given the rise of forgeries and reproductions in the market. Thorough research is imperative to determine the opportune moment to sell your print and evaluate its fair market value. Analysing recent sales of comparable works and exhibitions often yields valuable insights into your print's potential value. In the recent May New York sales, several of Thiebaud paintings took centre stage during both the evening and day auctions. Notable highlights included Star Pinball (1962), which fetched £8.9 million with fees at Christie's, and Shadow Streets (2002), reaching £2.5 million with fees at Sotheby's. Aquavella Gallery strategically aligned its exhibition, Wayne Thiebaud: Summer Days, with these sales, further enhancing the artist's cultural significance and the prominence of his work within the current market landscape. This exhibition is set to continue until June 2024.

Typically, a strong market and cultural presence of an artist indicate a favourable time to sell. However, navigating the complexities and fluctuations of the art market may necessitate professional assistance. Fortunately, with the art tech tools available, MyArtBroker can assist you. We offer complimentary valuations for your artwork and provide access to our MyPortfolio service, featuring an AI-powered value indicator that offers real-time valuation of individual prints by amalgamating public and private sales data. This ensures you remain aware of the latest trends in Thiebaud’s market, empowering you to make informed decisions about your print.

At MyArtBroker, our specialists provide a free market valuation for your artwork, offering a level of transparency unmatched in today’s market. In addition to our valuations, through our online Trading Floor, you can access real-time insights into works by the artist you’re looking to sell, including pieces that are most in demand, wanted, or currently for sale: allowing sellers to trust the valuation that they are provided.

Additionally, the MyPortfolio collection management service grants you free access to our comprehensive print market database. This resource allows you to review auction histories for the specific work you’re looking to sell, including hammer prices, values paid, and seller returns. In a fluctuating market, this historical data is invaluable - and often comes at a cost elsewhere - offering insights into past and current values to further inform decisions based on market timing and conditions. In addition to our specialists guidance, you have concrete data.

Our approach is tailored to align with the unique attributes of each artwork, and offer optimal results:

How a Private Sale Works

Unlike peer-to-peer platforms, which lack specialised expertise, authenticity guarantees, and legal infrastructure for high-value sales, MyArtBroker operates through private sales ensuring a secure and seamless transaction process. We charge sellers 0% to sell, and take a small commission from our buyers, absorbing essential aspects including insurance, shipping, and marketing - at no extra cost to the seller. There is no magic to it, we’re a lean specialised business with less overheads than traditional models meaning we can do better for our clients.

Our revenue is derived from buyer commissions only, which are individually negotiated upon offer, and we aim to give the client the best return in the market place. By focusing on high-value artworks in excess of £10,000, we provide specialised care and expertise, ensuring each piece receives the attention it deserves, while simultaneously maximising returns with our clients. For works that fall below this threshold speak to the team about a recommendation, we offer market advisory free of charge. Our goal at MyArtBroker is to offer a seamless solution, setting us apart in the art market.

Advisory and Recommendations

In cases for artists and artworks, where our existing network of collectors isn’t the best fit due to value, medium or condition we collaborate with reputable partners to facilitate its sale. Carefully tailoring your artwork to the right party. This tailored approach is especially important as it considers the unique attributes of each artwork, providing sellers with the best possible outcome in today’s shifting art market. You can discuss this approach with us without charge as part of our advisory service.

Such recommendations are on a case-by-case basis, and ensures broader exposure and takes advantage of our knowledge of where a work will do best.

In addition to our live trading floor, MyArtBroker's MyPortfolio serves as a collection management system, empowering collectors to curate and oversee their prints and editions collection, while tracking its value in real-time. This feature grants users access to our print market database, uniquely tied to our proprietary algorithm, SingularityX. This algorithm scans and analyses both public auction and private sales data to determine real-time valuations of individual print works, factoring in various aspects such as condition, colour, and other factors affecting value.

Read What Powers MyArtBroker's Technology? In Conversation With Stuart Jameison, Financial Quant to learn more about our algorithm.

Emerging art tech tools are vital in navigating the current, and evolving, digital art market landscape. For instance, by adding Wayne Thiebaud prints from our website to the MyPortfolio dashboard, users gain insight into unique sale opportunities and observe market performance and fluctuations in real time, streamlining the sales process effortlessly. Our pioneering technology has revolutionised art portfolio management, making it more accessible and equipping users with data-driven insights for informed decisions. MyArtBroker harnesses cutting-edge technology driven by data, coupled with a team of industry experts, to deliver an exceptional experience. Our professionals work closely with clients, utilising the MyPortfolio dashboard, to provide personalised guidance for creating a profitable art collection. By merging technology and expertise, we are committed to offering unparalleled curation and customer service.