An original Bob Ross painting, created during an episode of the television show “The Joy of Painting” in 1990, sold for $787,900 at Bonham’s on Tuesday.
The sale is the most recent in a series of rapidly rising auction prices for pieces painted by Ross, most recently seen in the million-dollar sale conducted by John Oliver’s “Last Week Tonight.”
The proceeds from the lot at Bonham’s will benefit American Public Television.
Titled “Change of Seasons,” the painting was composed during episode 11 of the show's 20th season and signed in the bottom left corner by Ross. He described the work in the episode as "just a beautiful little painting" and it has remained in storage since its creation in 1990.
Prior to the Oliver sale, the record for a Ross painting was less than $250,000, set in late 2025.
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Will Stern is a reporter and editor for cllct, the premier company for collectible culture.