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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”
“Cityscape”

“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
Orchestra

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
Red Abstract OiI Compostion by Lee Reynolds

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

“Woman putting on lipstick”

“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

Category

20th Century Lee Reynolds Paintings

Materials

Oil

Red Abstract OiI Compostion by Lee Reynolds
Red Abstract OiI Compostion by Lee Reynolds

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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Large Red and Orange Abstract Painting
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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...

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Mid-20th Century Abstract Lee Reynolds Paintings

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Lee Reynolds Vanguard Studios Mid Century Abstract Oil Painting c.1960s
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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Mid-20th Century Abstract Lee Reynolds Paintings

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Canvas, Oil

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.