After cuts of more than US$1 billion enacted by the Trump administration, an auction of Bob Ross paintings raised US$1.27 million to help save public television in the United States.
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In July 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump approved US$1.1 billion in cuts to the public broadcasting budget, and auctions of Bob Ross paintings have been held since last year to raise funds to help save public television in the United States.
Thirty paintings created by the artist will be auctioned to help cover the programming costs of public television stations affected by cuts in federal funding.
The first event took place in Los Angeles in November of last year, and the most recent one, held on January 27 in Massachusetts, raised US$1.27 million with the sale of three works by Ross.
According to People, in a press release, auction house Bonhams Skinner announced that the first painting, “Change of Seasons,” created live in 1990 on the series “The Joy of Painting”, hosted by Ross, was sold for US$787,900. According to the publication, this amount is 13 times higher than the maximum estimated value of the work.
The second Ross painting, “Babbling Brook” from 1993, sold for US$279,900, six times its maximum estimated value, and the third, “Valley View” from 1990, sold for US$203,700, a price four times higher than the estimate.
The iconic American painter Bob Ross (1942–1995), known for his voluminous hair and gentle voice, hosted the television program “The Joy of Painting”. On the classic PBS show, which aired from 1983 to 1994, the artist taught landscape painting techniques while sharing positive messages.
“I am deeply moved by today’s extraordinary results,” said Joan Kowalski, president of Bob Ross Inc., in a statement after the auction.
“Seeing Bob’s paintings resonate so strongly reminds me that his work continues to bring joy and meaning into people’s lives. I hope Bob’s work can provide meaningful support to broadcasters across the country. It’s exactly what Bob would have wanted — to continue inspiring and uplifting public television for generations.”
Images: YouTube reproduction. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
