Wayne Thiebaud: Google, cakes and 49 years of art

Google celebrates its 12th birthday today with a birthday cake courtesy of American artist Wayne Thiebaud. Thiebaud first burst onto the art scene in 1961 with his luscious-looking cakes and pastries. The National Gallery of Art said that Thiebaud paints the cakes out of a nostalgia for his childhood.

"My subject matter was a genuine sort of experience that came out of my life, particularly the American world in which I was privileged to be," Thiebaud said." I would really think of the bakery counters, of the way the counter was lit, where the pies were placed, but I wanted just a piece of the experience."

Here's a look back on some of Thiebaud's work.

"Cakes"
Courtesy of the National Gallery of Art

"Neapolitan Meringue"
Courtesy of the Smithsonian American Art Museum

"Meringues"

"Five Rows of Sunglasses"
Gift of the Thiebaud Family, The Phillips Collection.

"Tie Rack"
Courtesy of the Allan Stone Gallery

"Three Machines"
Courtesy of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco

"Waterland"
Courtesy of the National Gallery of Art