Bob Ross Experience — Minnetrista

The Exhibit

Explore the life, philosophy, and art of the iconic American painter inside the historic home where The Joy of Painting was filmed. The immersive exhibit features original paintings and artifacts, inspiring visitors with Bob’s message of fearless creativity.

You can step into the restored television studio and stand where Bob stood, at the iconic easel where he beat the devil out of his brushes.

Across the hall, you will be transported to a 1980s living room, the setting where much of the world discovered and enjoyed Bob.

The Gallery

Upstairs from the Experience, visitors can enjoy even more original Ross artwork, with shows specially curated to highlight a specific theme or aspect of Bob’s work. Now showing:

The Joy of Painting – Series 15

Bob Ross prompted viewers to make “big decisions” that shaped their painted worlds. In 1989, The Joy of Painting’s creative team did the same, ringing in a new era for the show.

Series 15 was the last filmed by WIPB here in the Lucius L. Ball home, its episodes were distributed to nearly 300 PBS stations nationwide. In the wake of WIPB’s success, the station’s creative team decided to upgrade their operations to a new modern TV studio built on the Ball State University campus.

Check out that season’s paintings up close. Back together in this building for the first time in over 30 years, they represent Bob’s signature style and the “big decisions” he made that brought his art to life.

The Painting Workshop

Visitors can now paint in the building where The Joy of Painting was filmed! Learn Bob’s signature “wet-on-wet” technique from experienced Certified Ross Instructors. Book a class with the link to the right.