Original works by the painter and television host Bob Ross will be sold at auction to help public television channels after reducing funding by the Trump administration.
The Bonhams auction house indicated in a press release that 30 Ross tables would be sold during various auctions.
The first auction will take place on November 11 as part of their Californian and Western art sale. Three of Ross’ works will be included: Cliffside, painted in 1990; Winter’s Peace, painted in 1993; And Home in the Valley, painted in 1993.
Ross’ signature is at the bottom left of the three paintings.
“Bob Ross has devoted his life to rendering art accessible to everyone thanks to public television. This auction guarantees that his heritage continues to support the media itself that has brought his joy and creativity in American homes for decades,” said Joan Kowalski, president of Bob Ross Inc., in a press release.
Auctions of the 30 tables have an estimated total value between 850,000 and 1.4 million dollars, said Bonhams.
In May, President Donald Trump signed a decree ending public funding for the National Radio Public and PBS in order to put an end to what he called “biased and partisan media coverage”.
The White House had previously declared in a statement that the organizations had received “tens of millions of dollars” from taxpayers to disseminate “radical and awakened propaganda disguised as” news’ “.
Under this order, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting was ordered to stop funding NPR and PBS to the extent permitted by law.
