Kobe Bryant is a global sports icon who sadly passed away early 2020. The art community keeps his memory alive with dozens of murals depicting Bryant across Los Angeles county.
LessKobe’s passing inspired acclaimed studio artist Isaac Pelayo to paint his first-ever mural: “Saint Kobe”. In the artist’s statement, he wrote: “My intention was not to paint Kobe the basketball legend we all know nor the entrepreneur. My intention was to paint a real man. To paint exactly what Los Angeles represents. Inspiration, love, compassion, strength, prosperity, happiness, motivation, and togetherness.”
Long Beach-based artist JC Ro painted this iconic mural in 2016 to commemorate Kobe’s retirement from the NBA. “Mamba On Melrose”, designed in the artist’s trademark style, consists of 413 triangles, corresponding with the date—4/13—of Kobe’s final game. After Kobe’s passing, the mural became one of L.A.’s main memorial sites to the fallen legend, with mourning fans covering the bottom half of the wall with message-filled post-it notes and leaving candles and flowers at its base.
This striking tribute—designed by local portrait heavyweight Levi Ponce and painted collectively by Ponce and a sizable group of artist friends—highlights a number of Kobe’s astonishing accomplishments as a player and a family man.
“Kid Mamba” was painted over the course of seven days in February to coincide with a Kobe memorial that was held at Rick’s. Artist Daniels has been painting large-scale Kobe portraits in his studio for years, several of them appearing at the gallery inside Staples Center.
Jonas Never and DRoyce’s iconic tribute mural was painted in 2016 to commemorate Kobe’s final NBA season. It quickly became a recognized landmark, a popular pilgrimage for Lakers fans attending games at Staples Center just down the street. Upon Kobe’s passing, the artwork took on a new meaning, becoming one of L.A.’s main memorial sites where admirers could pay their respects. Candles and flowers can be found at the base of the wall to this day.
Visitors to Staples Center need only walk a short distance to find another powerful tribute to Kobe and Gianna, painted by UTI Crew member Aise. “Mamba Out” features a beautiful and complex mandala in the background, one of the artist’s trademarks.
Enkone’s beautiful tribute envisions Kobe and Gianna, forever young, continuing to play the game they loved in another dimension for an eternity.
Seoul-born, Los Angeles-based superstar portrait artist Royyal Dog created this striking image that highlights both sides of Kobe Bryant: the athlete and the family man. Titled “Legends Are Forever”, the artwork is situated at an entry point to the Arts District and around the corner from the famed Container Yard, a local mecca for urban art. East 4th St at S Alameda St.
With stunning photorealism, artist Downtown Daniel painted this touching tribute that captures a father- daughter moment for the ages.