Dozens of Bob Ross paintings will be auctioned to help public TV after funding cuts

"Ross, with his distinctive afro, soothing voice and sunny outlook, empowered millions of viewers to make and appreciate art through his show The Joy of Painting. More than 400 half-hour episodes aired on PBS (and eventually the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) from 1983 to 1994, the year before Ross died of cancer at age 52. Ross' impact lives on: His show still airs on PBS and streams on platforms like Hulu and Twitch."

"Certified instructors continue teaching his wet-on-wet oil painting technique to the masses, and the Smithsonian acquired several of his works for its permanent collection in 2019. Now, the nonprofit syndicator American Public Television (APT) is auctioning off 30 of Ross' paintings to raise money for public broadcasters hit by federal funding cuts. APT has pledged to direct 100% of its net sales proceeds to APT and PBS stations nationwide, auction house Bonhams said in a statement."

"Bonhams is calling this the "largest single offering of Bob Ross original works ever brought to market." Ross has become synonymous with public broadcasting some activists have even invoked him in their calls for restoring federal funding to it. "Bob Ross dedicated his life to making art accessible to everyone through public television," said Joan Kowalski, president of Bob Ross, Inc. "This auction ensures his legacy continues to support the very medium that brought his joy and creativity into American homes for decades.""

Bob Ross hosted The Joy of Painting, airing more than 400 half-hour episodes on PBS from 1983 to 1994. His show continues to air on PBS and stream on platforms like Hulu and Twitch. Certified instructors still teach his wet-on-wet oil technique, and the Smithsonian acquired several works for its permanent collection in 2019. American Public Television is auctioning 30 original Ross paintings to raise money for public broadcasters affected by federal funding cuts. APT pledged to direct 100% of net sales proceeds to APT and PBS stations. Bonhams calls it the largest single offering of Ross originals; the first three paintings will be sold in Los Angeles on Nov. 11.

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