"Garden Wall" Kite by Michael Thompson

Chicago-based artist Michael Thompson creates unique kites crafted from split bamboo frames covered with stretched muslin and a collage of vintage Asian ephemera—including fragments of fabric, scrolls, drawings, and books collected during his travels. In “Garden Wall,” Thompson layers muted tones to recreate the calm of an enclosed garden, and focusing on the quiet beauty of a magpie perched on a magnolia tree. As the eye drifts upwards - as though peering over a courtyard wall - a lively procession appears, with riders on horseback bearing offerings. The playful narrative is balanced by subdued color-blocking, setting the soft pinks of each fragment in gentle contrast with the neutral background.

Thompson has earned an international reputation for his kite works, an engrossing project initiated by the artist more than a decade ago.