Thirty paintings by the iconic artist Bob Ross will be auctioned off to support small and rural public television stations in the U.S. facing funding cuts. Bob Ross, known for making art accessible to all, will have three of his paintings auctioned by Bonhams in Los Angeles on Nov. 11, with additional auctions in London, New York, Boston, and online.
The paintings up for auction include Ross’s works “Winter’s Peace” and “Home in the Valley” from 1993, along with “Cliffside” painted in 1990. Proceeds from the auction will benefit stations using content from American Public Television.
These auctions aim to assist struggling stations in covering licensing fees for popular programs like “The Best of Joy of Painting,” “America’s Test Kitchen,” “Julia Child’s French Chef Classics,” and “This Old House.” With Congress cutting $1.1 billion in public broadcasting funding, many PBS and NPR stations have faced financial challenges, leading to layoffs and program cuts.
Bob Ross, who passed away in 1995, left a lasting legacy through his TV show “The Joy of Painting,” known for his soothing demeanor and positive messages. The 30 paintings to be auctioned showcase Ross’s serene landscapes, reflecting his distinctive style. Bonhams estimates the total value of the upcoming auctions to be between $850,000 and $1.4 million.
The recent sale of Ross’s mountain-and-lake scenes fetched impressive amounts, exceeding initial valuations. This success indicates the potential for raising substantial funds to support public television stations further.