"Empress and Dragon" 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 this petite kite entitled “Empress and Dragon,” Thompson layers decorative Chinese prints to create a spirited abstract landscape. Peering around vignettes of plum blossoms and pine trees, symbols of winter and longevity, is a central figure of an empress riding on the back of a mythical qilin. Divine and peaceful creatures, qilin are benevolent protectors of those with good intentions and make for propitious guardians of the home.

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