Kobe Bryant Murals Pay Tribute to a Legend
Art “Artoon” Gozukuchikyan painted a beautiful, life-like Kobe tribute mural on a building on Ventura Boulevard in LA’s Studio City.
By Marnie Kunz
With the tragic death of NBA icon Kobe Bryant weighing down the nation this week, beautiful street art tributes to Kobe Bryant have popped up around the world. Here’s a look at where to find the stunning Kobe Bryant murals that honor the fallen basketball legend.
Los Angeles Street Art Honors Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bryant’s mark on the world is felt deepest in LA, where he played his 20-year NBA career entirely with the Los Angeles Lakers. Kobe Bryant street art has sprung up across LA in tribute to the late NBA player. Here are some of the big Kobe murals in the LA area:
Muck Rock’s tribute to Kobe Bryant and his daughter in Mid-City, LA. Photo by Kory Klem.
LA street artist Misteralek painted a stunning Kobe mural on the back of Priority Barber Club, at Orange Avenue and Wardlow Road in California Heights. The owner of the barber shop, Johnny Garibay, grew up as a Lakers fan idolizing Kobe, and he decided to call artist Misteralek to come and pay homage to Kobe with a mural.
LA street artist Muck Rock painted a tribute to the late Kobe Bryant and his deceased daughter Gianna in Mid-City, Los Angeles. The mural is located at the corner of Pickford Street and Vineyard Avenue and features portraits of Kobe and Gianna, with the words “Kobe & Gigi Forever. Daddy’s Girl.”
An existing mural of Kobe, at Shoe Palace on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles, has become a gathering place for fans to mourn and leave flowers and tokens of appreciation to the late basketball great.
In the hours following Bryant’s tragic death, Art “Artoon” Gozukuchikyan painted a beautiful, life-like Kobe tribute mural on a building on Ventura Boulevard in LA’s Studio City.
Basketball lovers also gathered in front of a Kobe Bryant mural on Lebanon Street, one block from the Los Angeles Convention Center, close to the home of the Lakers at the Staples Center. It was painted by sports muralist Jonas Never in 2016, after Bryant announced plans to retire at the end of the season.
People from around the world continue to pay tribute to the late Lakers star at murals around the world.
Phillippines Murals Honor Kobe
The Phillipppines’ many basketball fans rallied behind the late Kobe Bryant and continue to pay homage to him at street art around the country.
Manila’s most famous public basketball court, in the Tenement Housing complex in Taguig, have painted the court with a giant portrait of Gianna with her arms around her father Kobe. Fans were invited to paint written remembrances in white on the court’s black walls.
“This is our tribute to them,” Eddie Barbuena, coach of the Tenement’s basketball team, told ESPN. “We will always love you, Kobe Bryant.”
A second mural was for Kobe was painted at Manila’s House of Kobe basketball court, where fans added handwritten inscriptions memorializing Bryant and Gianna.
Boston Street Art Honors Kobe Bryant
A mural of the late Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna has popped up in Cambridge’s Graffiti Alley in Boston. The mural was commissioned by officials from the Central Square Business Improvement District to honor the icon. The beautiful tribute was painted by street artist Brandalizm.
Atlanta Kobe Mural
In Atlanta’s Historic Fourth Ward Skate Park, a Kobe Bryant mural has also popped up, with a kobra to pay homage to his Mamba nickname. The street art portrait is by Atlanta artist 404 Era.
NYC’s Madison Square Garden also paid tribute to Kobe with a purple and gold light display in honor of Kobe Bryant and the Lakers.
Has Kobe Bryant street art sprung up in your city? Comment below.
Related Posts: Best NYC Street Art, Brooklyn Murals Spread Mental Health Awareness
Resources: Black Mamba: The Life and Legacy of Kobe Bryant
Marnie Kunz is a USATF and RRCA-certified running coach and the creator of Runstreet Art Runs, which bring together communities through running and street art. She is a Brooklyn resident, running coach, Akita mom, and writer.
