Bonhams has been consigned to sell 30 original paintings by beloved American artist and TV host Bob Ross, with an estimated total value of $850,000 to $1.4 million. The works are being sold on behalf of American Public Television (APT), which will direct all net proceeds to support APT and PBS public television stations affected by federal funding cuts. Three paintings—Winter’s Peace (1993), Home in the Valley (1993), and Cliffside (1990)—will be offered on November 11 in Los Angeles, with the remaining 27 offered in auctions next year in New York, Boston, and Los Angeles.
This sale matters because it directly addresses the $1.1 billion in federal funding cuts to public broadcasting that have forced 330 PBS and 246 NPR stations to seek alternative funding, lay off staff, and cut programming. By leveraging Ross’s enduring popularity—which surged during the Covid-19 pandemic—the auction not only raises critical funds for public television but also highlights the intersection of art market dynamics and cultural policy. Bonhams already holds the world auction record for Ross’s work, and with his market rising, the sale could surpass previous records while supporting a vital public service.