"Hew" 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 “Hew,” Thompson creates an animated landscape of layered paper fragments, uniting high-contrast elements with washes of ink and paint. A central panel of expressive calligraphy patterns the kite with rhythmic motion and softens the rigid lines of the surrounding collage. 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, fabric, paper, paint, watercolor.