A native of Denver, Colorado, Lester Varian studied in New York at the Pratt Institute of Architecture and Barber's Beaux-Arts Atelier. He then returned permanently to Denver where he established the architecture firm of Varian and Varian with his father. During his lifetime, Varian was active as an artist creating lithographs and etchings. He is best known for his images of Colorado including cities and mining towns. He joined the WPA Federal Arts Project.
