I’m a sucker for a good dessert, and Wayne Thiebaud is the master of making them even more irresistible. His paintings of cakes, pies, pastries, and other everyday items are so lifelike, that you can almost taste them. But there’s more to Thiebaud’s work than just eye candy. His complex depictions of light and shadow give his paintings a depth and strangeness that is both alluring and unsettling.

Thiebaud’s paintings are often described as Pop art, but I think they owe more to the tradition of still-life painting. Like the Old Masters, Thiebaud is interested in capturing the beauty of the everyday. But he also brings a modern sensibility to his work, using bold colors and simplified forms to create images that are both familiar and strange.

Thiebaud’s paintings are a reminder that there’s beauty in the ordinary. A slice of pie can be just as beautiful as a painting by Picasso. And Thiebaud’s work shows us that even the most mundane objects can be transformed into something extraordinary. I’m glad that Thiebaud’s work is so popular. It’s a reminder that food is more than just fuel. It’s a source of pleasure, comfort, and community. And Thiebaud’s paintings celebrate all of that.

If you’re ever in a museum, be sure to check out a Wayne Thiebaud painting. You won’t be disappointed.

Learn more at SFMOMA.