Three original paintings by the beloved television artist Bob Ross will be auctioned by Bonhams in Los Angeles on Tuesday. This unique sale aims to generate funds for public television stations throughout the United States. Organized by American Public Television (APT), the auction represents the largest collection of Ross’s original works ever made available to the public, with thirty paintings up for bid and all net proceeds directed to support public broadcasting.
Among the paintings on display are two pieces created during Ross’s renowned show, ‘The Joy of Painting’, which aired on PBS from January 1983 to May 1994. One notable piece features a seascape on a vertical canvas, originally painted for an instructional book published by Ross.
Inspiration Behind the Auction
The idea for this auction originated from Joan Kowalski, president of Bob Ross Inc., the organization responsible for managing Ross’s intellectual property and legacy. Kowalski’s inspiration came after observing two privately owned Ross paintings sell for significant amounts at Bonhams earlier in 2025. She contacted APT to explore how a larger auction could help address recent federal funding losses.
“It was just an idea I had in my head in the middle of the night,” said Kowalski. “I decided it’s probably something Bob would have decided to do if he was still here.”
Funding Challenges for Public Media
The auction takes place during a challenging time for public media in the United States. In July 2025, Congress eliminated $1.1 billion in federal funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, fulfilling a goal set by former President Donald Trump to reduce government support for public media.
Gabriella Jones-Litchfield, president of GJL Media and a consultant for APT, emphasized the importance of public television in providing accessible content. “Whether you’re in rural America or in a major city, public television is there for those people and for us,” she noted. “Now we’re in desperate need to fulfill this funding gap and really think about the future of what public television is and how we can survive.”
Aaron Bastian, senior director of California and Western paintings at Bonhams, expressed optimism about the auction’s potential. “It’s a risk. You don’t know what’s going to happen,” he said. “Hopefully, people will open their hearts and their wallets a little bit, knowing that the money’s going to a good cause and they get to take home the painting.”
Ross, who passed away on July 4, 1995, at the age of 52, became a cultural icon through his gentle teaching style and optimistic philosophy. His influence has continued to grow, especially among younger audiences, thanks to the reach of social media and streaming platforms.
This auction represents not only a chance to acquire a piece of artistic history but also an opportunity to support the future of public broadcasting in the United States.
