Performing strongly in the sale was Bob Ross’s (1942–1995), Purple Mountain Range, painted in 1993 for one of Joy of Painting host’s instructional books, which exceeded its high estimate over 5x, when it sold for $279,900. The other three Ross works offered in the sale also performed well above their estimates with Autumn Images, painted in 1990, achieving $241,800, more than 4x its high estimate, and both Mountain Seclusion painted 1990, and River’s Peace, painted in 1991, fetching $203,700 each, exceeding their high estimates by over four-fold. Collectively the third official offering of Ross works sold on behalf of American Public Television (APT), which has pledged to direct 100% of its net proceeds to support public television stations nationwide, achieved a combined total of $929,100.
Bob Ross, Purple Mountain Range (1993), sold for $279,900 USD. Courtesy of Bonhams.
Four works by the beloved painter hammered at roughly four times their high estimates, with all proceeds going to support US public broadcasters.
Executed in his signature wet-on-wet technique, the works draw on Ross’s familiar repertoire of motifs including snow-capped peaks, tranquil waters, and “happy little trees”.
Part of a series of benefit auctions offering 30 paintings donated by Bob Ross Inc., the sales were organised following the elimination of more than $1.1 billion USD (£815 million) in federal funding for US public broadcasters. The cuts were first called for by President Donald Trump in May last year, and passed by the House of Representatives in July.
The series of auctions began last November and will continue throughout 2026, with non-profit programme syndicator American Public Television pledging to direct 100% of net proceeds to public television stations nationwide.
Previous offerings have capitalised on the late artist’s enduring popularity, buoyed by streaming-era rediscovery and nostalgia—most recently in January 2026, when Change of Seasons (1990) set the artist’s current auction record at $787,900 USD (£583,824), also at Bonhams.
By Shanyu Zhong – 25 April 2026, New York
