News writer
It all started with a painful family secret, but it transformed into one of the most talked-about pieces in Ohio’s art community. Dayton artist Elisha Frontz won “Best in Show” at the 2025 Ohio Arts Council Ohio Biennial Exhibition for a quilt called “The House Always Wins.” Nothing odd there, right? It is though, as the quilt is entirely stitched from 178 losing $30 Ohio Lottery tickets.
An unlikely canvas
Frontz didn’t choose the tickets for novelty. No, it was what was left behind.
In 2024, her husband stepped in to help manage his parents’ finances after his father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. That is when they uncovered something they never saw coming: boxes of scratch-off tickets representing hundreds of thousands of dollars spent during a dementia-fueled gambling addiction.
The money his parents had saved up to support themselves in their final years was gone. While the site was heartbreaking, Frontz decided to turn that feeling into something physical and unforgettable.
Transforming an addiction into art
As Frontz sorted through the stacks of tickets, she realized that this trash carried a story. Rather than throw them out, she decided to do some research.
She looked up quilt patterns for symbolism and eventually decided on the traditional Log Cabin design. This design is historically known as a symbol of home, warmth, and resilience.
During the months of painstaking work, Frontz cut, arranged, and sewed the fragile lottery tickets into their final form.
“I felt it was important to save what was left and transform it into something meaningful,” Frontz told the Dayton Daily News. “Gambling addiction affects so many families, yet it’s not talked about openly.”
Her win, selected from nearly 2,000 statewide entries, left her “absolutely stunned.”
Shining a light on hidden struggles
Not only does Frontz’s work resonate for its craftsmanship, but for the conversation it brings into the light. Problem gambling and the emotional fallout within families rarely make it into the public discourse.
Viewers at the exhibition, however, were immediately connected.
“I was nervous about how viewers would respond, but so many people have shared their own similar experiences,” Frontz said. “This award validates the need to have this conversation.”
For Frontz, who only returned to making art full-time in 2021 after two decades focused on raising children and working as a musician, the recognition feels deeply personal.
“This story is rooted in Ohio. The materials are from Ohio. To have this work recognized by the Ohio Arts Council is a profound honor,” she said.
“The House Always Wins” can be seen at the Riffe Gallery in Columbus, Ohio, through January 9, 2026. You can also view Frontz’s work at her studio in Dayton’s Front Street Art Complex, which is open on the first Friday and Saturday each month.
While the quilt is now an award-winning piece, for Frontz, it will always be a testament to healing, resourcefulness, and the power of turning unimaginable loss into art that speaks for so many families.
Enjoy playing the Ohio Lottery, and please remember to play responsibly.
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