Lee Reynolds Burr opened his Vanguard Studios in Beverly Hills, California, in 1964 to make oil paintings an attainable decoration for any American household. With seascapes, nautical scenes, still lifes, bullfights, cowboys, pastoral views, hot-air balloons, horse races and abstractions, there was a Vanguard Studios creation to match any taste and interior.
Born in Los Angeles, Burr studied art at the University of Southern California. After graduating and a stint in the U.S. Army, he worked in a local studio as a painter before becoming a home decor entrepreneur with financial support from his mother.
Only a fraction of the alleged hundreds of thousands of oil paintings produced by Vanguard were actually painted by Burr, even though they were signed “Lee Reynolds,” “Lee Burr” or just “Reynolds.” (As he would later state, those signed solely “Lee Reynolds Burr” were by his own hand, and he would sometimes include a thumbprint as proof.) Instead, a team of artists organized in an assembly line hand-painted and copied works on an eclectic range of subjects, the originals often being created by Burr while other canvases were purchased at auctions in Europe and reproduced at Vanguard. Sold in furniture stores and through interior decorators nationwide, the Reynolds-signed paintings soon became ubiquitous above couches in living rooms all over the United States.
These paintings regularly mirrored art-world trends, such as the Abstract Expressionism of the 1960s, but at prices that were much more affordable than fine art. Vanguard Studios was sold to the Kirsch Company in 1974, but Burr’s name was still used on Vanguard paintings. Burr would start East Park Gallery in 1981 and continue to produce works in a more contemporary style until his retirement in 1998.
In the collection of Impressionist and abstract paintings on 1stDibs, find a range of authentic Lee Reynolds paintings.
$1,280Sale Price|20% Off
“Cityscape”
By Lee Reynolds
Located in Southampton, NY
Original oil and acrylic painting on canvas of a contemporary cityscape.. Signed Lee Reynolds lower right. Vanguard Studio label verso. Circa 1975. Condition is excellent. The pain...
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
Red Abstract OiI Compostion by Lee Reynolds
By Lee Reynolds
Located in Pasadena, CA
Modern Abstract Year: 1960-1970 Medium: Oil on Canvas, signed lower right Size: Abstract oil on canvas by Lee Reynolds was a popular artist in the 1960s known for oversized, color...
Oil
Orchestra
By Lee Reynolds
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Figurative abstract oil on canvas of a performing orchestra. Great colors and brushstrokes. Signed lower right.
Oil
“Woman putting on lipstick”
By Lee Reynolds
Located in Warren, NJ
Lee Reynolds Painting Oil Canvas Original 4’x5’ “woman Putting on Lipstick”. Stunning painting in good condition. Buyer must pickup or hire shipping service
Oil
Red Abstract OiI Compostion by Lee Reynolds
By Lee Reynolds
Located in Pasadena, CA
Modern Abstract Year: 1960-1970 Medium: Oil on Canvas, signed lower right Size: Abstract oil on canvas by Lee Reynolds was a popular artist in the 1960s known for oversized, color...
Oil
$380Sale Price|20% Off
H 14 in W 18 in D 2 in
Antique American 1918 Stratford Connecticut Framed Impressionist Oil Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Early American impressionist landscape painting. Framed. Possibly signed verso. Oil on board.
Canvas, Oil
MARILYN - ANTICIPATION III
By Steve Kaufman
Located in Aventura, FL
Hand signed by the artist on verso. Hand Painted Unique Silkscreen on Canvas. Artwork is in excellent condition. Canvas is not stretched. Certificate of authenticity included. All...
Canvas, Oil
$540Sale Price|20% Off
H 30 in W 30 in D 4 in
Vintage American Modernist Abstract Expressionist Framed Oil Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Nicely painted American school abstract expressionist painting. Oil on canvas. Framed. Signed verso. Measuring 30 by 30 overall and 24 by 24 painting alone.
Canvas, Oil
$7,107
H 35.44 in W 70.87 in D 1.58 in
Carol Moreno, Contemporary Landscape Jungle Green Landscape Diptych, 2025
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
The total size of the two works is 90x180 cm. At Escat Gallery we are committed to maintaining the highest standards of trust and professionalism for our collectors. Every artwork i...
Canvas, Acrylic, Oil
$7,019
H 35.44 in W 30.71 in D 2.37 in
Portrait of a Gentleman, David Erskine, 13th Laird of Dun, Wearing Armour c.1700
Located in London, GB
The gentleman in this exquisite oil on canvas portrait, presented by Titan Fine Art, is shown with the grandiloquence characteristic of the English School of painting. He is portray...
Oil, Canvas
$15,983
H 40.75 in W 30.75 in D 4.25 in
19th Century dog portrait oil painting of two show dogs
By Valentine Thomas Garland
Located in Nr Broadway, Worcestershire
Valentine Thomas Garland British, (1845-1914) After the Show Oil on canvas, signed Image size: 28.5 inches x 18.5 inches Size including frame: 40.75 inches x 30.75 inches A wonderf...
Canvas, Oil
Wall Street, Winter by Guy Wiggins
By Guy Wiggins
Located in New Orleans, LA
Guy Carleton Wiggins 1883-1962 American Wall Street, Winter Signed "Guy Wiggins" (lower right) Titled, signed and dated “Wall Street Winter/Guy Wiggins/1930” (en verso) Oil on can...
Canvas, Oil
$1,400
H 24 in W 36 in D 1 in
Abstracted Polka Dot Canvas with Spray Paint by Paul Laoria
Located in New York, NY
Paul Laoria Reflections V, c. late 20th/early 21st century Spray paint and oil paint on canvas 24 x 30 in. Signed lower right, signed and inscribed verso Paul Laoria grew up in New ...
Canvas, Oil, Spray Paint
$1,173
H 15.75 in W 23.63 in D 0.79 in
"What about stereotypes?" Diptych. Decorative social art
Located in Zofingen, AG
In keeping with my passion for nature, this collection "Infusing wisdom of Nature" focuses on the wisdom and support found in nature. Powerful roots symbolising spiritual and cultura...
Canvas, Oil
$6,000Sale Price|20% Off
H 49 in W 35 in D 1 in
Three Angels - Mid Century Hawaiian Symbolist Figurative Painting
By Marguerite Blasingame
Located in Soquel, CA
Symbolic Hawaiian nocturnal figurative of whispy angel figures with mountains and bridge by Marguerite Louis Blasingame (American; 1906-1947), circa 1940-45. Marguerite and her husband Frank Blasingame...
Linen, Oil
$8,750
H 55.52 in W 53.55 in
Dancing In The Palace Gardens.. Contemporary Oil Painting
By Paul Wadsworth
Located in Brecon, Powys
Leading British Expressionist Paul Wadsworth captures the magic of India in his paintings. These unique pieces are created from real life scenes and experiences laid down onto the ca...
Oil
$1,090Sale Price|20% Off
H 16 in W 20 in D 1 in
Naive Style Art with Earthy Winter Colours by Contemporary Irish Artist
Located in Preston, GB
Naive Style Art depicting a journey home using wintery earthy colours by Contemporary Irish Artist, Eimear Gilleece Canvas measures 20 x 16 inches Unframed Signed on front and rea...
Canvas, Cotton Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
Sold
H 31.5 in W 88.19 in
Extra-large 1990 abstract contemporary oil painting in pastel colors
By Lee Reynolds
Located in Frederiksberg C, DK
This extra-large contemporary oil painting by American artist Lee Reynolds Burr from 1990 hangs as a relaxing and joyful interior element. In this co...
Canvas, Oil
Large Red and Orange Abstract Painting
By Lee Reynolds
Located in Houston, TX
Large Lee Reynolds abstract painting that incorporates hues of Red, Orange, and White. The painting is framed and signed in the bottom right corner. Dimensions Without Frame: H 48 in. x W 60 in. x D 1.5 in. Artist Biography: Born in Los Angeles, Lee Reynolds Burr has a BFA from the University of Southern California. He has served as Chairman, Board of Directors of East Park Gallery in Los Angeles. Lee was born in Los Angeles, CA in 1936 to Hazel Stuart Burr and Charles Reynolds Burr. He attended Los Angeles High School and received his fine arts degree at USC. Lee enlisted in the US Army and was honorably discharged in 1956. Upon his return to Los Angeles Lee worked for a local studio as a painter. He quickly realized he wanted to start his own art business and in the 1960’s used a small loan from his mother to found Vanguard Studios in Beverly Hills, CA. He was the director for Vanguard Studios in Beverly Hills, California in the late sixties and many thousands of artworks bear the signature "Lee Reynolds" or "Lee Burr...
Canvas, Oil, ABS
Sold
H 30.25 in W 60.25 in
Lee Reynolds Vanguard Studios Mid Century Abstract Oil Painting c.1960s
By Lee Reynolds
Located in San Francisco, CA
Lee Reynolds Vanguard Studios Mid Century Abstract Oil Painting c.1960s Fabulous sixties abstract painting created at Vanguard Studios in Beverly Hills, California. Original oil on...
Canvas, Oil