"Wellspring" 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 “Wellspring,” Thompson carefully aligns patterned silk to create a mirror effect, with floral designs seemingly spilling out from the center of the kite. Perfectly balanced, the book matched panels recall the reflection of a garden on a calm stretch of water.

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