Bob Ross Paintings to be Auctioned to Support Public Broadcasting
Dozens of original paintings by the late artist and television personality Bob Ross will be auctioned off over the next two years to benefit public television stations facing financial challenges.
The nonprofit American Public Television (APT) is auctioning 30 paintings created by Ross during the filming of his popular PBS series, The Joy of Painting, with 100% of net proceeds going to APT and PBS stations nationwide. This initiative comes as many public broadcasters grapple with recent federal funding cuts, impacting their ability to provide educational and cultural programming. The first three paintings will be auctioned November 11 in Los Angeles, with subsequent sales planned for Bonhams salerooms in New York and Boston through 2026.
Ross, known for his soothing voice and encouraging approach to art, hosted The Joy of Painting from 1983 to 1994. His show continues to air and stream on platforms like Hulu and Twitch, experiencing a resurgence in popularity in recent years. “Bob Ross dedicated his life to making art accessible to everyone through public television,” said Joan Kowalski, president of Bob Ross, Inc. “This auction ensures his legacy continues to support the very medium that brought his joy and creativity into American homes for decades.” The auction is being hailed as the “largest single offering of Bob Ross original works ever brought to market” by Bonhams, and could significantly alleviate financial pressures on smaller, rural stations.
Federal funding cuts to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) earlier this year led to job losses at PBS and the closure of some local stations, threatening access to programs like America’s Test Kitchen and classic shows like Julia Child’s French Chef. Bonhams previously sold two Ross paintings in August for a combined $200,550, setting a new auction record for the artist. Officials estimate the upcoming auction could generate between $850,000 and $1.4 million to help stations cover licensing fees and maintain vital programming.
Bonhams will continue to announce auction dates and locations in the coming months, with the goal of bolstering public broadcasting’s financial stability.
