Three paintings by Bob Ross, the beloved host of PBS's *The Joy of Painting*, will be auctioned at Bonhams on January 27 as part of a 30-work consignment benefiting American Public Television (APT). The works—*Valley View* (1990), *Change of Seasons* (1990), and *Babbling Brook* (1993)—carry combined estimates up to $155,000. Previous Ross sales through Bonhams have been strong, including a November auction that brought $662,000 for three works and a separate sale exceeding $1 million organized by comedian John Oliver.
The sale matters because it highlights the enduring commercial appeal of Bob Ross, a figure who transcends the traditional art world, while directly supporting a beleaguered public broadcaster. APT faces severe funding challenges after the Trump administration proposed cutting $1.1 billion in public broadcasting funding through fiscal year 2027. The auction thus intertwines art-market demand with a broader political struggle over arts and media funding in the United States.