Three original paintings by Bob Ross are set to be auctioned off Tuesday as part of a series to help raise money for public television stations after the Trump administration cut funding.
The pieces were featured in the famed painter’s beloved show “The Joy of Painting,” which introduced the art form to millions of people. He hosted the show from 1983 until 1994, one year before he died.
The three pieces set to be sold by the auction house Bonhams are: “Cliffside,” painted in 1990; “Winter’s Peace,” painted in 1993; and “Home in the Valley,” painted in 1993. Bids range from $25,000 to $50,000.
Ross’ signature appears in the lower left corner of all three paintings.
Joan Kowalski, president of Bob Ross Inc., said in an October statement announcing the auction that the sale ensures Ross’ “legacy continues to support the very medium that brought his joy and creativity into American homes for decades.”
The auction is set to begin at 4 p.m. ET in Los Angeles.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order in May to end public funding of PBS and National Public Radio to stop what he called “biased and partisan news coverage.” The White House had said that the organizations received “tens of millions of dollars” in taxpayers’ dollars to spread “radical, woke propaganda disguised as ‘news.'”
Under Trump’s order, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting was directed to cut funding to the organizations to the extent allowed by law.
Hundreds of PBS and NPR stations were forced to quickly find alternative funding, The Associated Press reported. Some stations had to lay off workers and cut programs, while others resorted to emergency fund drives.
Bonhams said all net proceeds from the sale will go to American Public Television and to PBS public television stations nationwide. In total, 30 of Ross’ paintings are expected to be sold at different auctions.
The auctions of the 30 paintings are estimated to total $850,000 to $1.4 million, Bonhams said. The other auctions will be announced at a later date.
