John Oliver’s benefit auction for public broadcasting set a new market record for a Bob Ross painting. On Monday, Ross’s *Cabin at Sunset*, painted for a 1986 episode of PBS’s *The Joy of Painting*, sold for roughly $1,044,000. Oliver revealed the sale on the 2025 finale of *Last Week Tonight With John Oliver*, having persuaded the Bob Ross estate to auction the work. The lot received 35 bids. The auction was part of “John Oliver’s Junk,” an online sale of 65 items that netted nearly $1.54 million for the Public Media Bridge Fund, which supports local public broadcasters after the Trump administration eliminated $1.1 billion from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
This sale matters because it highlights the intersection of art market dynamics and political advocacy. The record-breaking price for a Bob Ross painting underscores the enduring commercial appeal of his work, while the auction’s purpose—raising funds for public media amid federal budget cuts—demonstrates how art can be leveraged to support free speech and community broadcasting. The event also draws attention to the vulnerability of public broadcasting in the U.S. and the role of cultural figures in mobilizing resources to counteract policy changes.