November 27, 2025
by Bob Ross’ Cabin at Sunset (1987) has sold online for more than $1 million, setting a new record for the popular television painter and providing a financial boost to U.S. public broadcasting , which is facing severe cuts after the administration of the U.S. president cut more than $1 billion in federal funding, according to the Art Newspaper.
The auction, organized by Last Week Tonight with John Oliver as part of the Public Media Bridge Fund campaign, drew more than 30 bids and closed at $1.04 million, well above the $318,000 that Bob Ross’ Winter’s Peace recently sold for at Bonhams.
At Bonhams, three Bob Ross paintings had already fetched $662,000 on November 11, launching a series of auctions that will continue until 2026 and includes a total of 30 works donated by Bob Ross Inc. Most were created on camera for the show The Joy of Painting, which continues to find new popularity online.
Cabin at Sunset (1987)
Bob Ross Inc. President Joan Kowalski made the donation to support stations facing immediate operational challenges. According to the APT, the cuts have hit rural areas hard, raising concerns about staff reductions, news programming and educational content for children.
Although Ross created thousands of works, few are available on the market — either in PBS archives or in the possession of his company. The limited availability, combined with the artist’s renewed social media following, has driven up prices. The remaining 27 paintings from the donation will be auctioned in 2026 in Boston, New York and Los Angeles.
*Main Photo: Instagram @bobross_thejoyofpainting
