"Study in Black, White, & Purple" 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 “Study in Black, White, & Purple,” Thompson uses the pictorial qualities of traditional calligraphic script for dynamic visual effect. Contrasting lines of text against swathes of purple and inky black, he creates a composition that is captivating and passionate, exploring the tensions between hard and soft, and dark and light.

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