Bonhams in Los Angeles auctioned three paintings by Bob Ross on November 11, 2025, to fund American public television.
Sale of Bob Ross works: what are the main results?
On November 11, at Bonhams in Los Angeles, three canvases by Bob Ross during his broadcasts were sold for a total of USD 662,000. The hammer prices reported by the auction house are as follows:
- Winter’s Peace (1993) — hammer at $318,000;
- Home in the Valley (1993) — hammer at $229,100;
- Cliffside (1990) — hammer at $114,000.
These results have significantly exceeded the presale estimates for some lots, confirming the interest in Bob Ross paintings and the demand for pieces linked to the artist’s television popularity.
Bonhams Los Angeles auction on November 11, 2025
The session took place in Los Angeles under the aegis of Bonhams and saw the participation of collectors and market operators both in the room and remotely. The event was structured as the first tranche of a broader series of sales agreed with Bob Ross, Inc. and organized to support public broadcasters.
For logistical details and the catalog, see the local office of Bonhams Los Angeles
How will American public television and PBS funding benefit?
The proceeds are intended to support American public television and specific distribution initiatives. American Public Television (APT) and PBS are cited as recipients of the resources to ensure the continuity of programming and support for local stations that have suffered budget cuts. The sale was presented as a form of Bob Ross charity sale aimed at bridging part of the public funding losses.
Part of the funds will be used to strengthen the dissemination of educational and cultural programs, particularly on the Create channel, which broadcasts series like The Joy of Painting along with other educational content.
How many works will be auctioned in 2026 and where will the sales take place?
Bonhams announced that, in addition to the three lots sold on November 11, 2025, another 27 works will be offered during 2026 at various auction house locations.
Among the confirmed dates is January 27, 2026, when some canvases will be included in the American Art and Americana sale. This distributed schedule aims to maximize visibility and ensure that regional collectors have access to the lots.
What role did Bob Ross, Inc. play?
The initiative was carried out in collaboration with Bob Ross, Inc., holder of the archive and related rights to the works and recordings. The presence of the entity managing the artist’s estate helped certify the provenance of the paintings and organize the Bob Ross works sale within a transparent framework, according to the information made public in the auction notes.
What implications does the sale have for the market and collecting?
From an EEAT and market perspective, the transaction highlights some established dynamics: the rarity of canvases linked to specific television appearances increases collector interest; however, rarity must be assessed alongside provenance documentation. Additionally, buyer’s premium and sale conditions can impact the net value perceived by the seller and the bidding strategies of buyers.
In practice, bids for media-related works like those of Ross are often driven by the combination of verified provenance, media visibility, and institutional appetite. For museums and institutional collectors, moreover, traceability and photographic documentation contained in the catalog remain decisive elements for acquisitions or loans.
How to follow upcoming auctions
For those following the market, Bonhams’ official channels will publish updated calendars and catalogs, while APT and PBS releases will provide details on the use of proceeds. For a journalistic summary and the November 11 report, see the Artnet report: Artnet. For information on American Public Television, consult APT and for the official PBS website: PBS.
In summary, the November 11, 2025 auction at Bonhams Los Angeles demonstrated that the artistic heritage linked to television can serve as a concrete lever to support public programming, while the 2026 calendar will offer further market opportunities and occasions to assess demand on a broader scale.
As expert in digital marketing, Amelia began working in the fintech sector in 2014 after writing her thesis on Bitcoin technology. Previously author for several international crypto-related magazines and CMO at Eidoo. She is now the co-founder and editor-in-chief of The Cryptonomist and Econique.
She is also a marketing teacher at Digital Coach in Milan and she published a book about NFTs for the Italian publishing house Mondadori, while she is also helping artists and company to entering in the sector. As advisor, Amelia is also involved in metaverse-related project such as The Nemesis and OVER.
