Bob Ross Paintings Fetch Over $600,000 at Auction to Benefit Public Television
Three paintings byโ beloved artist โคand television host Bob Rossโ have sold forโ a combined โค$619,800 at โคauction, significantly exceeding pre-sale estimates and providing โฃa crucial financial boost to public television stations nationwide. The auction, held by Bonhams in Bostonโข on Novemberโ 11, 2025,โค saw spirited bidding โขfor the works, demonstratingโ the enduring โappeal โof Ross and his art.
The proceeds from the sale โฃwill be distributed to public television stations that rely on content from American Public Television, helping to cover licensing fees for popular programs like “AmericaS Test Kitchen,” “julia Child’s French Chef โขClassics,” and “This โคOld House.” This comes at a critical time โfor manny stations, especially smallerโ and rural outlets, following recent federalโข funding โcuts that have left hundreds facing financial โคhardship.
The paintings-created during โthe run of Ross’s iconic show, โค”The Joy of Painting”-represent a rare chance for collectors to own a piece of television history. bids for all threeโฃ works surpassed expectations, whichโค had topped out around $50,000.
“The stations have been the gateway for generations of viewers to discover not just Bob’s gentle teaching,but the transformative power of โขthe arts,” said โคJoan Kowalski,president of Bob Ross Inc., in a statement.
The financial lifeline arrives โas public broadcastingโ faces significant challenges. Congress, at the โrequest of the Trump โManagement, โeliminated $1.1 billion allocated to public broadcasting,โค impacting approximately 330 PBS and 246 NPR stations.โ
Additional Bob Ross paintings are slated for auction at Bonhams in Marlborough, Massachusetts, on January 27, and in New York City at a later date. Ross, who died โin 1995 at age 52 from complications from cancer, remains a cultural icon, withโค his calmingโ demeanor and encouraging messages resonating with โขaudiences old and new-particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns, when viewership of his shows surged. He was known for his signature phrase, turning painting errors into “happy accidents.”