"Pandect" Kite 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 “Pandect,” Thompson aligns scraps of printed silk to create a landscape of light and dark. He positions each fragment to establish balance and careful asymmetry, treating color and texture like physical forms colliding on his canvas. Subtle details unite the disparate elements into a cohesive whole, such as seams of high-contrast stitching and washes of dark ink that flow across the kite. Working within a subdued palette of white, black, and light brown, the kite remains neutral and balanced, an ideal option for minimalist interiors.

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

Split bamboo, muslin, silk, pigments.