Bob Ross Original Painting to Be Auctioned in Germany for the First Time to Benefit U.S. Public Television Nationwide
Ketterer Kunst, Germany's Leading Auction House, to Offer 'Mountain Splendor' on December 5th in Munich
Bob Ross-American Public Television Campaign Goes International
CHANTILLY, Va., Oct. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The unprecedented series of Bob Ross auctions to benefit public television nationwide is going global. Germany's leading auction house, Ketterer Kunst, will offer an original Bob Ross painting for the first time in Germany when it presents "Mountain Splendor" (1986) in its Modern & Contemporary Art Day Sale on December 5, 2026, in Munich. The painting is offered by American Public Television (APT), which has pledged 100% of net proceeds to benefit public television stations across the United States.
The German offering is part of the Bob Ross-APT auction series, conceived by Joan Kowalski, President of Bob Ross Inc., and launched in November 2025 in response to the federal rescission that pulled funding from public television stations across the country. Thirty original Bob Ross paintings, donated to APT by Bob Ross Inc., are being sold in groups over multiple years. To date, thirteen paintings have sold across four Bonhams auctions in Los Angeles, Boston, New York, as well as online, raising more than $2.4 million in net proceeds.
Bob Ross painted "Mountain Splendor" live on camera for Season 7, Episode 8 of The Joy of Painting. Viewers can still watch Bob create it, from blank canvas to finished work, in less than half an hour. Like other works in the collection, the painting carries an extraordinary, unbroken history, having been preserved in storage immediately after it was painted. It has remained unsold and untouched for decades. Because it has never been exposed to environmental stress, it retains a rare level of color saturation and surface integrity. Painted live on camera, this painting represents the top tier from the body of work that made him a household name.
"It is incredibly gratifying and moving to see Bob's legacy reach Germany. The Joy of Painting has been airing in the country for 25 years and his following there is so devoted," said Kowalski. "Bob wanted to share art with everyone. To bring one of his paintings to Germany and have it give back to public television that gave him his start, feels like the most beautiful full circle moment."
Germany is one of the strongest international communities for Bob Ross' legacy. The Joy of Painting first aired there in 2001 on BR-alpha, now ARD alpha, and has continued to air ever since. It also airs on Sky Deutschland, and in 2026 The Bob Ross Channel launched on Samsung TV Plus in Germany. The country is also home to more than one hundred Certified Ross Instructors (CRI®s), one of the largest networks of CRI®s in the world outside the United States.
Ketterer Kunst has been the number one art auction house in the German-speaking world for the eighth consecutive year, and its Modern & Contemporary Art Day auction on December 4th and 5th in Munich features works by international artists.
"Our December auctions bring together works by Peter Doig, Pierre Soulages, Alexander Calder, and many other internationally acclaimed artists, attracting collectors from around the world," says Robert Ketterer, owner and auctioneer of Ketterer Kunst. "Bob Ross adds a different kind of star power: he is a beloved cultural icon with a devoted following in Germany. With 'Mountain Splendor,' fans have the rare opportunity to own a piece of television history – and can still watch him create it, brushstroke by brushstroke. We are delighted to bring this painting to auction while supporting U.S. public television stations, which introduced his joy of painting to millions."
Preview and auction details:
- Auction: Modern & Contemporary Art, December 5, 2026, Ketterer Kunst, Munich
- Lot: Bob Ross (1942-1995), 'Mountain Splendor,' 1986, oil on canvas, 45.6 x 60.7 cm (17.9 x 23.8 in)
- Estimate: €40,000 – 60,000
- Preview: Frankfurt, November 8-10; Cologne, November 12-15; Hamburg, November 17-18; Berlin, November 20-27; Munich, November 29-December 4
- More information and bidding: https://www.kettererkunst.com/2026/Bob-Ross/
Contact:
Robin Insley Associates
[email protected]/917-689-2985
American Public Television and Create
[email protected]
Ketterer Kunst
Anja Häse [email protected]
About Bob Ross: Bob Ross, beloved American painter, and instructor who popularized the Bob Ross Wet-on-Wet Technique®, introduced painting to millions of people all over the world through his instructional television show, The Joy of Painting. Born and raised in Florida, Ross dropped out of high school and worked as a carpenter for his father. At 18, Ross enlisted in the United States Air Force, during which time he saw the mountains that would eventually become recurring images in his work. He developed his quick painting techniques during U.S.O. art classes and work breaks and sold his paintings to tourists to supplement his Air Force income. After learning the wet-on-wet technique from German painter William Alexander, Bob Ross went on to launch his own company and in 1983, premiered The Joy of Painting on public television. The show continues to air uninterrupted from the very first episode and Ross remains as famous as ever for his gentle and humorous demeanor, visit BobRoss.com.
About American Public Television: American Public Television (APT) is the leading syndicator of high-quality, top-rated programming to the nation's more than 350 public television stations. Founded in 1961, APT distributes 250 new program titles per year and nearly one-half of the top 100 highest-rated public television titles in the U.S. APT's diverse catalog includes prominent documentaries, performances, news and current affairs programs, dramas, how-to programs, children's series, and classic movies. APT also licenses programs internationally through its APT Worldwide service and distributes Create®TV – featuring the best of public television's lifestyle programming – and WORLD™, public television's premier news, science, and documentary channel. More information at APTonline.org.
About Ketterer Kunst: Ketterer Kunst is one of Europe's leading art auction houses and Germany's market leader. Headquartered in Munich with offices in Hamburg, Cologne, and Berlin and an international network of experts, the family-owned business is led by Robert Ketterer in its second generation. Its services include auctions and private sales of contemporary, modern, and 19th-century art, as well as rare and valuable books spanning five centuries. Ketterer Kunst ranks among the world's top ten auction houses by total sales value for art created after 1800 (Artnet Analytics 2025). KettererKunst.com.
SOURCE Bob Ross Inc.
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