Bob Ross paintings will be auctioned to support public TV stations after federal funding cuts
Joan Kowalski, president of Bob Ross Inc., said Ross “dedicated his life to making art accessible to everyone.” AP
Thirty paintings by the soft-spoken, bushy-haired artist Bob Ross are set to go up for auction, with proceeds supporting small and rural public television stations struggling due to federal funding cuts.
Ross, a fixture of public TV in the 1980s and ’90s, “dedicated his life to making art accessible to everyone,” 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 auctions will take place in London, New York, Boston, and online, with all profits earmarked for stations that air programs from distributor American Public Television. The funding will help cover licensing fees for popular shows, including The Best of Joy of Painting, America’s Test Kitchen, Julia Child’s French Chef Classics, and This Old House.
Under President Donald Trump, Congress cut $1.1 billion from public broadcasting, leaving roughly 330 PBS and 246 NPR stations scrambling for alternative funding. Many have launched emergency fundraising drives, while some have been forced to reduce staff and programming.
Ross, who passed away in 1995 from cancer, hosted The Joy of Painting for 11 years. His calm, encouraging approach and signature phrases—like painting “happy little trees” and making no mistakes, only “happy accidents”—helped make the show beloved both in the U.S. and internationally. Interest in Ross surged again during the COVID-19 lockdowns.
The thirty paintings going to auction span Ross’ career, featuring serene landscapes of mountains and lakes in his distinctive style. Most were created on air, in the 30-minute span of a single episode. Two Ross paintings from the early 1990s previously sold at Bonhams for $114,800 and $95,750.
Bonhams estimates the upcoming auction of the 30 works could fetch between $850,000 and $1.4 million.
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