Rare Bob Ross Painting to be Auctioned in Support of Ball State PBS

Topics: Arts and Culture, Ball State PBS, College of Communication Information and Media, Giving

June 25, 2026

A rare original Bob Ross painting with deep ties to Ball State University and East Central Indiana will be auctioned June 30, with proceeds supporting Ball State PBS.

The painting, Mountain Summit, was created by Mr. Ross for Season 13, Episode 10 of The Joy of Painting, the beloved public television series that made him an international cultural icon. The work will be offered by Bonhams Skinner as part of its American Stories: Celebrating 250 Years of Independence auction, which begins at noon ET June 30 in Marlborough, Mass. Based on the current auction schedule, the painting is expected to go on the block at approximately 12:45 p.m.

Those interested in bidding may register online through Bonhams Skinner. The June 30 auction is open for online bidding through the auction house's website.

Net proceeds from the sale will directly benefit Ball State PBS, helping the station continue to provide trusted educational, cultural, and community-focused programming for viewers across East Central Indiana and Western Ohio.

"Bob Ross' connection to Muncie and WIPB is a special part of Ball State PBS' story," said Angie Grimes, interim general manager and director of audience development for Ball State Public Media. "This painting is a beautiful reminder of the role our station played in helping bring Bob's creativity, encouragement, and joy to viewers around the world. We are grateful for this opportunity to celebrate that legacy while supporting the continued work of Ball State PBS."

For Ball State PBS, the auction represents far more than the sale of a notable work of art. Mr. Ross filmed 30 of the 31 seasons of The Joy of Painting at WIPB in Muncie, helping turn a local public media station into the production home of one of television's most recognizable art programs.

Mr. Ross' gentle teaching style, signature landscapes, and encouragement that anyone could create art helped The Joy of Painting become one of public television's most beloved programs. Decades after the series first aired, and more than 30 years after his passing, Mr. Ross continues to inspire new generations of artists and viewers.

Mr. Ross' legacy also continues locally through The Bob Ross Experience at Minnetrista Museum & Gardens in Muncie. The immersive exhibition, located in the historic home where The Joy of Painting was filmed, explores Mr. Ross' life, philosophy, and art; includes original paintings and artifacts; and allows visitors to step into the restored television studio where Mr. Ross painted.

Today known as Ball State PBS, the station retains the WIPB call letters and remains rooted in a community-centered mission that dates back more than five decades. In the early 1970s, a group of Muncie mothers helped lead a grassroots effort to establish a local public television station so children in the region could continue accessing educational programming, including Sesame Street. That effort led to the creation of Eastern Indiana Community Television and the launch of WIPB on Oct. 31, 1971.

In 2020, WIPB-TV became Ball State PBS, reflecting the station's role as part of Ball State Public Media and its continued connection to the University's mission of community engagement, education, and immersive learning. The station retained its WIPB call letters while adopting a name that more clearly connects its PBS service with Ball State University and East Central Indiana.

"Ball State PBS has always been about service-first as WIPB, a station created through a grassroots community effort, and today as part of Ball State Public Media," said Dr. Kristen McCauliff, dean of Ball State's College of Communication, Information, and Media, which is home to Ball State Public Media. "Bob Ross' connection to this station is a remarkable chapter in that story. This auction celebrates that legacy while helping Ball State PBS continue its educational and community-focused work across East Central Indiana and Western Ohio."

For more information about Ball State Public Media and its programming, visit ballstatepbs.org and indianapublicradio.org.