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
“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
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
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
$35,849Sale Price|25% Off
H 41 in W 53 in D 1.75 in
Large Painting of Classic New York City in Rain with Figures by British Artist
By Angela Wakefield
Located in Preston, GB
Large Original Painting of a Classic 1990's Busy New York City Scene in the Rain, with Yellow Taxis, Cars and Figures, by British Urban Landscape Artist, Angela Wakefield. This is a ...
Gesso, Acrylic, Oil, Mixed Media, Cotton Canvas, Paint, Linen, Canvas
Hunt Slonem "Maxim" Single Black and White Bunny
By Hunt Slonem
Located in Houston, TX
Hunt Slonem "Maxim" Single Black and White Bunny A single rabbit gestured in black on a white background in a vintage frame Unframed: 10 x 8 inches Framed: 13.5 x 11.5 inches *Paint...
Oil, Panel
Hunt Slonem "Violet Spring" Purple and Green Flower
By Hunt Slonem
Located in Houston, TX
Hunt Slonem "Violet Spring" Purple and Green Flower A single violet gestured in purple, yellow and green on a matching background in a vintage frame Unframed: 10 x 8 inches Framed: ...
Oil, Panel
Hunt Slonem "2 Blue Diamond Dust" Bunny Couple
By Hunt Slonem
Located in Houston, TX
Hunt Slonem "2 Blue Diamond Dust" Bunny Couple A pair of rabbits gestured in blue and white on a dark blue Diamond Dust background in a vintage frame Unframed: 14.5 x 11.5 inches Fr...
Glass, Resin, Oil, Panel
$5,405
H 25.6 in W 30.71 in D 1.97 in
19th Century Roman Landscape oil on canvas with Giltwood Frame
Located in Rome, IT
Amaizing 19' century Roman landscape depicting a part of Villa Borghese with Trinità dei Monti. With a finely carved gilt wood coeval frame. Measurements with frame cm 65 x78 wit...
Oil
Hunt Slonem "Midnight Blue" Single Bunny
By Hunt Slonem
Located in Houston, TX
Hunt Slonem "Midnight Blue" Single Bunny A single rabbit gestured in black on a dark blue background in a vintage frame Unframed: 8 x 6 inches Framed: 10.5 x 8.5 inches *Painting is...
Oil, Panel
$20,590
H 41 in W 53 in D 1.75 in
Large Original Painting of Broadway New York City by British Landscape Artist
By Angela Wakefield
Located in Preston, GB
Large Atmospheric Black & Yellow Painting of Broadway New York City by British Urban Landscape Artist, Angela Wakefield. This unique original is ...
Canvas, Paint, Cotton Canvas, Acrylic, Gesso, Linen, Mixed Media, Oil
$950
H 8 in W 6 in
"Afternoon Tea" (2024) By Danny McCaw, Original Abstract Portrait Oil Painting
By Danny McCaw
Located in Denver, CO
Danny McCaw's (US based) "Afternoon Tea" is an original, handmade oil painting with impasto brushstrokes that depicts an ambiguous human figure of white and grey with a cup of tea on...
Oil, Board
Composition
Located in PARIS, FR
Signed by the artist, lower left. This expressive painting by Erald Alentar is characterized by a dense, tactile surface and a rich, earthy palette dominated by deep greens, browns,...
Canvas, Oil
$8,768
H 35.44 in W 70.87 in D 1.58 in
Contemporary Jungle Landscape Diptych, Acrylic and Oil on Canvas, 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
$2,400
H 20 in W 40 in D 1 in
"NYC - Central Park West" (2019) by Christopher Clark, Cityscape Oil Painting
By Christopher Clark
Located in Denver, CO
"NYC - Central Park West" by Christopher Clark is an original abstract impressionist oil painting on cradled board that is ready to hang. Christopher has been an artist since earl...
Oil, Wood Panel
$8,557Sale Price|25% Off
H 51.19 in W 33.47 in D 1.19 in
Venice Landscape Italian Oil on Canvas Painting in Gilt Wood Frame, Belle Epoque
Located in Firenze, IT
This delightful turn of the century (early 20th century) oil on canvas painting represents an Italian landscape with one of the most famous squares in the world: Piazza San Marco in ...
Canvas, Oil
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