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Lee Reynolds Paintings

American, 1936-2017

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.

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Artist: Lee Reynolds
“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...
Category

1970s Contemporary Lee Reynolds Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Acrylic

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.
Category

1980s Abstract Impressionist Lee Reynolds Paintings

Materials

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...
Category

1960s Abstract Lee Reynolds Paintings

Materials

Oil

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Lee Reynolds Vanguard Studios Mid Century Abstract Oil Painting c.1960s
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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...
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Lee Reynolds paintings for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Lee Reynolds paintings available for sale on 1stDibs.
Questions About Lee Reynolds Paintings
  • 1stDibs ExpertOctober 7, 2024
    To tell if a Lee Reynolds painting is real, experts recommend having a certified appraiser or knowledgeable art dealer evaluate it for you. Many of Lee Reynolds's original works were mass-produced, so there are numerous copies of his most famous pieces. While you can sometimes make a determination by comparing the signature on your piece to images taken of authentic paintings, it is often very difficult to separate a reproduction from an original without years of experience and specialized training. On 1stDibs, explore a selection of Lee Reynolds Burr art.
  • 1stDibs ExpertNovember 20, 2024
    Whether Lee Reynolds paintings are worth anything varies. Reynolds ran an art workshop that mass-produced paintings, so his signature and name appear on thousands of works, even ones he did not personally make. Since they were made in large quantities, these workshop paintings usually have little monetary value. However, an authenticated painting produced by Reynolds himself may be worth more. For example, his painting Sailing Boats fetched over $1,100 at auction in 2024. A certified appraiser or experienced art dealer can tell you how much a particular Reynolds in your collection may be worth. Shop a variety of Lee Reynolds paintings on 1stDibs.

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