“What I appreciate about painting is the freedom it offers,” reflected the renowned painter Bob Ross during a 1994 episode of his popular TV program The Joy of Painting. “You can conjure any illusion you desire.” Employing his distinctive wet-on-wet oil painting method, Ross delicately layered a blend of vibrant yellow and green onto an upright canvas, crafting rolling hills that melted into a scene filled with verdant trees, misty mountains, a shimmering pond, and a crimson-topped barn.
One of his standout pieces, “Home in the Valley” (1993), is part of the countless artworks created during his show’s more than ten-year run on Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). This masterpiece is set to hit the auction block next month, with proceeds aimed at supporting public broadcasters affected by federal funding reductions under President Trump.
Organized by the nonprofit American Public Television (APT) and managed by Bonhams, the auction will include 30 paintings from the late artist. The proceeds will be allocated to APT and PBS stations across the country, as specified in an October 7 announcement from Bob Ross Inc., spearheaded by Joan Kowalski, daughter of Ross’s former partners, Annette and Walt Kowalski.
“This auction helps ensure Bob’s legacy continues to nurture the very medium that shared his joy and creativity with American families for years,” the announcement stated.
The first auction, set for November 11 in Los Angeles, will feature three of Ross’s pieces—“Home in the Valley” (1993), “Winter’s Peace” (1993), and “Cliffside” (1990)—during Bonhams’s California & Western Art sale. Each work holds an estimated value of $30,000 to $50,000.
The remaining paintings will be auctioned off in a series of events across Bonhams’s New York, Los Angeles, and Boston locations throughout 2026, as informed by the auction house to Hyperallergic.
In the years following his passing, Ross’s commitment to accessible art education continues to resonate. Many still enjoy The Joy of Painting, which can be streamed on YouTube and other platforms, seeing a notable resurgence in 2020 as more viewers sought his soothing narration and signature curly hair during the COVID-19 lockdowns. Concurrently, both Ross’s legacy and that of the Kowalskis have been reevaluated and scrutinized.
In 2019, the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History added four of Ross’s paintings to its collection, and in 2023, “A Walk in the Woods” (1983), created for the inaugural episode of his series, was appraised at approximately $10 million. (It was allegedly sold to an undisclosed buyer for $9.8 million.)
In August, Bonhams auctioned two of Ross’s paintings, “Lake Below Snow-Capped Peaks and Cloudy Sky” (1990–91) and “Lake Below Snow-Covered Mountains and Clear Sky” (1990–91), for $114,800 and $95,750, respectively.
“Bonhams presently holds the record for Bob Ross, and with demand for his work on the rise, proceeds directed towards American Public Television, and many paintings being created live for his audience — which is a significant draw for collectors — we anticipate enthusiastic bidding and results potentially exceeding past achievements,” stated Robin Starr, the auction house’s general manager, in a communication with Hyperallergic.
