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Bob Ross Canvases Fetch $662,000 at Bonhams to Benefit Public TV

Proceeds will go to American Public Television to ease station licensing costs after cuts to federal support.

Overview

  • The first three of 30 donated Bob Ross paintings sold in Los Angeles on Nov. 11 for a combined $662,000 including buyers’ premiums, far above pre-sale expectations.
  • Winter’s Peace led at $318,000, Home in the Valley sold for $229,100, and Cliffside achieved $114,800.
  • American Public Television confirmed the funds will help local stations and its Create channel by offsetting licensing and distribution fees.
  • Bob Ross Inc. donated 30 estate-held works for the multi-year campaign, with the remaining 27 to be auctioned by Bonhams in 2026 in New York, Boston, and Los Angeles.
  • Two of the works were painted on camera for The Joy of Painting, a provenance that helped drive demand and set a new Ross auction record with Winter’s Peace.