A trio of Bob Ross paintings sold for over $1 million at Bonhams' “Americana” auction on January 27, 2026, with proceeds benefiting American Public Television (APT). The top lot, *Change of Seasons* (1990), fetched $787,900—more than 13 times its high estimate—followed by *Babbling Brook* (1993) at $279,900 and *Valley View* (1990) at $203,700. The sale follows APT's record-breaking November auction and is part of a series of 24 Ross paintings to be offered throughout the year.
The sale matters because it directly supports public broadcasting at a time of severe federal funding cuts—$1.1 billion slashed in 2025 and the shutdown of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Ross's enduring popularity, driven by his televised *The Joy of Painting* series, continues to generate significant auction revenue for a nonprofit sector under financial strain, demonstrating how pop-culture art can serve as a vital fundraising tool for cultural institutions.