"Chinoiserie (Blue II)" 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 “Chinoiserie,” Thompson draws inspiration from Chinese blue-and-white porcelain. Like Chinese export porcelain, the kite is covered in high-contrast patterns of indigo and cobalt on white, saturated by inky dyes reminiscent of painterly brushstrokes. Awash with color, the kite is a meditation on the color blue and a calming addition to any interior.

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