"Untitled (Red and Orange)" 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 "Untitled (Red and Orange), cloud-like forms of red and orange drift across a neutral backdrop of calligraphy parchment, commanding attention with vibrant color. Lines of text add visual texture to balance the graphic impact of the bright red silk. A celebration of color, we love this kite for its ability to instantly uplift subdued interiors.

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