The Golden Ticket: Awards Recap
Gold holds both tangible and symbolic significance. For centuries, the color has been linked to wealth, power, divinity, purity, and achievement, serving as a physical marker of value. It has graced royal crowns and hung around the necks of Olympic champions. With such rich associations, the hue is a fitting choice for this year’s color show, The Golden Ticket, which will grant cash prizes for the first time, courtesy of the Katharine B. Sutphin Foundation.
Willy and the Sassy Cat, Kyle Ragsdale, oil on canvas
The annual juried show—formerly held in September—made its December debut in 2025, transforming the color-themed exhibition into a prize-winning competition. Artists from across the state and beyond submitted gold-inspired works for the chance to exhibit their art and compete for cash awards.
Jurors evaluated each piece across several weighted categories:
Interpretation of the theme “The Golden Ticket”: how thoughtfully each artist applied the theme to their work, in not only color but also symbolism, meaning, and originality. The golden aspects additionally needed to effectively function within the work and make sense compositionally.
Technical skill: assessing each artist’s mastery of their chosen medium.
Creativity: the jurors recognized work that took risks and expanded on the idea of gold or the “Golden Ticket” theme.
Emotional and intellectual resonance: is this a work that lingers in your mind? Does it evoke an emotional response or general curiosity?
The presenting artists did not disappoint. In total, ten honorable mentions, a top three, and best in show prizes were awarded. Honorable mentions included:
Swimming in a Golden Butterscotch Tapestry by Holly Aasen
Winter Symphony by India Cruse-Griffin
Plethora by Johnny McKee
Gold Standard by Barbara Hosein
There Would Be No Sweet Tea or Cake by Angela Fritz
Golden Butterfly by Jeb Gaither
Zion by Shelley Feeney
230 Beats Per Second by Barb Knuckles
Sunset on the Avenue by Kevin James Wilson
The Glimmer Between Dream and Reality by Erica Marie Schutt
The Frogs Who Wished for a King, Nasreen Khan Clark, pyrography and oil on wood
Third place, and a $2,000 prize, went to The Frogs Who Wished for a King by Nasreen Khan Clark. The work’s evocative composition invites viewers to meditate on ideas of desire, power, and the promises we elevate to the status of the divine. It was chosen for inventive storytelling and Clark’s implementation of theme: gold is not merely decorative but conceptually rich, transforming halos into markers of longing and sanctity.
Dragon Fish, Julie Xiao, acrylic on canvas
In second place, and the recipient of $3000: Dragon Fish by Julie Xiao. This piece employs meticulous linework to create a bold stylized composition that feels both contemporary and rooted in traditional symbolism. Here, the use of gold is both literal and conceptual, with the color woven into the fish’s shimmering scales and the celestial orbs that surround it. The arowana’s association with good fortune is a harbinger of wealth in some Eastern cultures.
Polka Dotted Betty, Alyssa Wolber, watercolor on aquaboard
A $3,500 prize and first place went to Polka Dotted Betty by Alyssa Wolber. This work stood out as a finalist for technical execution, emotional appeal, and Wolber’s delicate handling of shades of gold to evoke notions of innocence, nostalgia, and warmth. Here, the golden ticket theme manifests through the radiance of youth; the soft portrait seamlessly combines classical realism and a contemporary, whimsical background.
God’s Eye, Elisha Frontz, Scratch off lottery tickets, string, cotton fabric
Best in Show, the work that received the golden ticket and a $5,000.00 grand prize, went to God’s Eye by Elisha Frontz. This work was ultimately chosen as an exemplary interpretation of the theme “Golden Ticket.” Through expert crafting, an ordinary, disposable material is turned into a visually arresting and conceptually resonant quilt. This piece engages the show’s theme not just through shine, but through deeper symbolism: aspiration, luck, and the collective mythology of sudden wealth. By repurposing lottery tickets into a meticulously crafted, radiant pattern, the artist reframes failed and successful chances as a unified, almost sacred object, echoing both the allure and the futility embedded in our cultural pursuit of fortune. Ultimately, this piece captures the spirit of the exhibition by expanding what “Golden Ticket” can mean, transforming the residue of hope into an object of quiet power.
Congratulations to the prize-winners and all of the artists that submitted work this year. The Katharine B. Sutphin Foundation looks forward to sponsoring its fourth annual show in 2026.
The Katharine B. Sutphin Juried Color Show: The Golden Ticket is on exhibit in the Harrison Gallery through December during Gallery Hours: Monday – Friday from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. The works can additionally be viewed and purchased on our online gallery.