Discover Kobe Bryant Murals in Los Angeles

On Jan. 26, 2020, the world was shocked to hear the news that NBA legend Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, and seven others had died tragically in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California. As the terrible news broke, tributes to Bryant - who played his entire 20-season career with the Los Angeles Lakers - began pouring in from the sports world and beyond. At NBA games that day, teams took 24-second and 8-second violations in honor of Bryant's no. 24 and no. 8 jerseys.

In the days that followed the crash, landmarks across Los Angeles were lit up in the Lakers' purple and gold, including City Hall, Grand Park, Union Station, the InterContinental Downtown LA, the LAX Gateway Pylons, The Forum, and the Ferris Wheel at Santa Monica Pier.

Cities across the country and around the world joined in the colorful tribute, such as the Chase Center in San Francisco, the United Center in Chicago, the Empire State Building and Madison Square Garden in New York, and the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai.

The 62nd GRAMMY Awards took place at STAPLES Center just hours after the accident. Host Alicia Keys and Boyz II Men opened the ceremony with a performance of "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday" in honor of Kobe and the others lost in the crash. Keys said, "We are literally standing here, heartbroken, in the house that Kobe Bryant built."

A week later, the NFL paid tribute at Super Bowl LIV with a moment of silence before the game as the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs stood on their respective 24-yard lines. Several players wore cleats dedicated to Kobe, and in a pregame segment 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman recited a poem called "Dear Football" - a nod to Bryant's Oscar-winning short film, "Dear Basketball." During the halftime show by Jennifer Lopez and Shakira, Lopez's 11-year-old daughter, Emme and a children's choir joined her on stage for "Let's Get Loud." An aerial shot showed a giant cross lit up in purple and gold.

At the 92nd Academy Awards, the In Memoriam segment opened with an image of Kobe Bryant holding his Oscar for "Dear Basketball" and a quote: "Life is too short to get bogged down and be discouraged. You have to keep moving. You have to keep going."

Spike Lee, who presented the Best Director award to Bong Joon-ho, paid tribute to Bryant with a purple-and-gold Gucci suit that had the number "24" embroidered on the lapels and back of the jacket. Lee, who directed the 2009 documentary "Kobe Doin' Work," completed his ensemble with a pair of Nike Kobe 9 Elite "Strategy" sneakers and a purple hat and glasses. Earlier in the ceremony, when "Hair Love" won the Oscar for Best Animated Short, one of the film's directors and producers, Matthew A. Cherry said, "This award is dedicated to Kobe Bryant. May we all have a second act as great as his was."

Kobe Bryant was honored throughout the 2020 NBA All-Star Weekend. 

Dr. Dre collaborated with Gibson Hazard and Jack Bannon on a tribute video that quickly went viral after its debut on TNT. Described by Sports Illustrated as "a chill-inducing masterpiece," the video transforms STAPLES Center into "KOBE Center" and samples the "We Will Rock You" drum beat and the piano hook from "California Love."

Competing for the first time since he won the Slam Dunk Contest in 2008, Lakers center Dwight Howard reprised his famous Superman dunk - with Kobe's "24" overlaid on the familiar "S" chest logo.

Prior to the All-Star Game, Hall of Famer Magic Johnson eulogized Bryant and NBA Commissioner Emeritus David Stern, who had passed away in January: "We all are hurting. This is a tough time for the whole NBA family." After an eight-second moment of silence, Johnson introduced Jennifer Hudson, who gave a powerful performance of the 1934 song, "For All We Know."

Chicago native Common gave a shout-out to Bryant during his pre-game tribute to his hometown, which was hosting the All-Star Game. At halftime, Chance the Rapper honored Kobe and Gianna with "I Was a Rock," the unreleased song he wrote and performed at the 2016 ESPYs as an homage to Muhammad Ali.

During the All-Star Game, Team LeBron wore no. 2 and Team Giannis wore no. 24 in honor of Gianna and Kobe, respectively. 

Clippers small forward Kawhi Leonard won the first-ever NBA All-Star Game Kobe Bryant MVP Award, as it will be known from now on. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said, "To all of us, it seemed like the appropriate way to bring honor to him."

Bryant made his All-Star Game debut in 1998 at age 19 - he's the youngest All-Star in NBA history and holds the record for most consecutive All-Star selections, with 18 from 1998 - 2016.

A Celebration of Life: Kobe & Gianna Bryant took place at STAPLES Center on Feb. 24, 2020. The date was significant - "2.24.20" honors Gianna and Kobe's numbers, as well as the 20 years that Kobe played with the Lakers. The sold-old memorial was broadcast live on TV and streamed online. Proceeds from ticket sales were donated to the Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation.

With encouragement from the crowd, Vanessa Bryant gave a heartbreaking 20-minute tribute to her late husband and daughter. Other eulogies were given by Kobe's fellow NBA legends Michael Jordan and Shaquille O’Neal.

Beyoncé opened the memorial with a performance of "XO," which she said was one of Kobe's favorite songs; and "Halo." Alicia Keys performed Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata," which Kobe learned to play by ear as a surprise for Vanessa, said Lakers GM and Kobe’s close friend, Rob Pelinka. Later in the ceremony, Christina Aguilera sang "Ave Maria" in Italian, which the multilingual Bryant spoke fluently.

The memorial ended with Bryant's Oscar-winning short film, "Dear Basketball."

The day of the accident, thousands gathered outside STAPLES Center at L.A. LIVE and a massive memorial with flowers, cards and gifts began to take shape. Impromptu shrines also sprang up at Kobe Bryant murals across the city. Venice-based muralist Jules Muck was the first street artist to create a new tribute mural - her "Kobe & Gigi Forever" was completed just hours after the tragedy. Tribute murals have since been created in Los Angeles, across the country, and around the world.

At the Celebration of Life, a tearful Jimmy Kimmel said, “There are hundreds of murals painted by artists who are inspired, not because he was a basketball player, but because Kobe was an artist, too.”

An interactive map created by @kobemural shows the locations of tribute murals across L.A. County and beyond. After the jump, read on for selected murals that celebrate the life and legacy of Kobe and Gianna Bryant.

Tattoo artist Rask Opticon collaborated with the owner of 3TEN Liquor to create the "Mamba Mentality" mural outside the store.

Posted by @3tenliquor: We wanted to make this not a memorial but a tribute, a tribute to a true legend on and off the court. Mamba Mentality Forever! A HUGE Thanks to @rask_opticon for doing an absolutely amazing job, you are truly talented."

3TEN Liquor
22505 Crenshaw Blvd, Torrance 90505

Located in the former Plan Check space on Fairfax, Black Star Burger is home to a mural by Gena Milanesi that depicts Kobe Bryant sitting with the NBA Championship Trophy in 2001 after the Lakers beat the 76ers - the second of three consecutive NBA championships for the Kobe-Shaq team.

Black Star Burger
351 N Fairfax Ave, Los Angeles 90036

Pacoima-based artist Levi Ponce created this Kobe Bryant mural at the Collective Lifestyle store in 2016. On Instagram, @collectivelifestylela posted: "RIP Kobe. You left too early. You will always be known as the one of the greatest legends to ever play the game. Thank you for teaching us the mamba mentality. Thank you for blessing us with your talent and love for the game."

Collective Lifestyle
8906 Reseda Blvd., Northridge 91324

Located in the Downtown L.A. Arts District, The Container Yard is a 60,000 square-foot event venue that's renowned for its street art, which includes works by Vyal One, NYCHOS, Tristan Eaton, Ricky Watts and many more. "Legends Are Forever" is the second piece at TCY by LA-based artist Chris Shim aka Royyal Dog.

Posted by @thecontaineryard: "The whole process of absorbing the actual impact of both the recent tragedies and the realization of who and what our city or all cities are comprised of for that matter has been unforgettable. The outpouring of love and support, the emotional camaraderie, pain and comfort, the unabashed sense of empathy and care... the closeness we so rarely encounter in our day to day... the sense of unity that we seem to feel so viscerally after such a wide-reaching tragedy... we are all human, our lives are fragile and years numbered... when I look at this mural, I see love, appreciation, determination, the hawk and the dove, a father and a fighter, a lover and a leader... It makes me feel nostalgic and heart warmed... and proud to be a part of this city... thank you Kobe."

The Container Yard
800 E. 4th St., Los Angeles 90013

The second Kobe Bryant mural by Levi Ponce is located at Custom Auto Craft in Hancock Park. Ponce designed and painted Kobe's portrait, while the rest of the mural was painted by other Northeast Valley artists.

@kiptoe1: "We never wanted to paint under these circumstances but we all felt the need to paint as a collective force to bring this memorial to life, celebrating a legendary life. Kobe was a inspirational figure on and off the court, showing extreme passion and drive for what he does every day and making it count. You will be missed. The community that came out to support was heartfelt, and I can safely say the legend will be cherished on this wall for a long time."

Custom Auto Craft
100 N La Brea Ave., Los Angeles 90036

Jonas Never is perhaps best known for his "Touch of Venice" mural as well as his "Game of Thrones" mural at Brennan's. His memorial portraits include Nipsey Hussle, Jonathan Gold and Anthony Bourdain. Painted in 2016, Never's "Los Angeles Culture" portrait of Kobe Bryant is tucked away on Lebanon Street a block from the LA Convention Center.

1337 Lebanon St (at Cameron Lane), Los Angeles 90015

Born and raised in LA, AISEBORN ("Ace-born") painted this mural of Kobe and Gianna on the side of an unoccupied building next door to Grid Alternatives in Downtown L.A. Jonas Never's "Los Angeles Culture" mural is just a stone's throw away on Lebanon Street.

1344-46 Flower St, Los Angeles 90015

Located in the Downtown LA Fashion District, "Mambas Forever" is a collaboration between @sloe_motions and @sensaegram. From Tha Sloe's caption to the IG video: "Full wall, this specific wall and image means a lot to me.this pic is from when Kobe won a championship and Gigi was a baby,we went to the parade for this championship and we ended up walking thru this street during the parade and celebrating. I actually still have graffiti on this block from way back then, super meaningful to me."

Jimmy Jam T-shirts
1361 S Main St., Los Angeles 90015

"The Dreamer and The Believer" was created as part of a "complete makeover" of the Melrose location of the LA-based vegan chain, Fala Bar.

It's the second tribute mural by Painted Prophet: "I made this piece to commemorate the hoop dreams Gigi had and we all once had, watching our favorite NBA players growing up. As she turns to the skies consumed with wonder, he tunnels forward focused on her becoming a winner. He truly believed in his heart he was the best player ever, and in turn, planned to make her the best player ever. May this inspire you to be your greatest self. Not much compares to the love a Father has for his daughter."

Fala Bar
7751 1/2 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles 90046

Art Gozukuchikyan (aka Artoon) followed up his mural of Kobe and Gianna Bryant at VEM Exotic Rentals (see below) with "City of Angels" at Globe Tire & Motorsports.

Posted by @globe_motorsports: "City of Angels.. Kobe Bryant was great, charismatic, and one of the hardest working athletes ever. Kobe’s impact went beyond basketball and his legacy will live on forever. We love you and LA loves you !! Come by and see our Tribute to the late Kobe and Gigi Bryant."

Globe Tire & Motorsports
2450 S. La Cienega Blvd, Los Angeles 90034

Located on De La Torre Way in Boyle Heights, this collaboration between Hector Arias (aka Tetris Wai) and Plek One features Australian designer Tyson Beck's reimagining of the NBA logo, which replaces Jerry West with Kobe Bryant.

Arias shares some insight in his IG post: "To Los Angeles, from Los Angeles. KOBE FOREVER!! @NBA make Kobe the new NBA logo! @theoneplek and I created this mural in Boyle Heights. We painted this wall 7 yrs ago with the image of Don Ramon in a Scarface theme. In the beginning, the community was upset about painting over that image and a few of them approached me asking, “WTH are you doing?” After I explained what we were painting next, the community loved the idea and they welcomed KOBE in the Latino community. The original Kobe reference by @tysonbeck I was using had a purple uniform and I changed it to a “Sunday Home Game”(white uniform) to symbolize the day he passed away, on a Sunday. With much love and respect, this is dedicated, in loving memory, to the 9 victims of this terrible tragedy. May their souls Rest In Peace and Glory."

Gopar Auto Repair
3425 Union Pacific Ave⁣, Los Angeles 90023

Jonas Never completed his newest Kobe tribute mural the same day as the public memorial. The mural is located on the Hill Street side of the historic Grand Central Market and depicts Bryant celebrating the 2010 NBA Championship, when the Lakers beat the Celtics in Game 7 at STAPLES Center. It was the 16th championship for the Lakers franchise and the fifth title for Bryant, who was named Finals MVP for the second consecutive year.

@never1959: "Incredibly humbled to immortalize Kobe Bryant at @grandcentralmarketla. I can’t thank the owners & staff here enough for trusting me with this project. In a sea of quick tributes in random places I was proud to take my time & try my best to get it right."

Grand Central Market
317 S Broadway, Los Angeles 90013

Located at Hardcore Fitness Boot Camp in Downtown LA, "City of Angels" is the second Kobe and Gigi mural by @sloe_motions, who plans on painting 24 tribute murals.

@sloe_motions: "And here it is, ”City of Angels!” my second Kobe n Gigi tribute. first and foremost I want to say that this wasn’t just a project I painted solo, this was a project done by the city of LA and Kobe fans. i can’t express the joy I had from the appreciation of everyone and the contributions from everyone. from people bringing me food, beverages, shirts and a long list of things to show their appreciation to what I was doing. what mattered most was the thank you’s from each and every person. im happy that we all came together in a time of mourning to bring this huge mural together. this was totally unplanned and a lot of freehand painting was done and took longer than I expected. this was a donation painting from mine and @hardcorefitcecilia pockets for no profit at all. i put all my jobs and work aside for over a week to show my appreciation to Kobe n the Bryant family, the city of LA and all people that were affected by this tragic loss. i can’t thank the people enough and if u were here to witness this mural go down u were all apart of this project. thank u everyone and let’s continue to stay strong threw the hard times! 22 more murals to go…"

Hardcore Fitness Boot Camp
400 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles 90015

East LA native Paul Daniels painted "Kid Mamba" on the orange wall behind Rick's, the two-story poolside bar at Hotel Figueroa in Downtown LA. Located off Cottage Place, the mural depicts Kobe gazing in the direction of STAPLES Center, which is a couple of blocks away.

Posted by @lauracarmer: "Proud to have witnessed my brother @pauldanielsart work on this Kobe Bryant mural over the last week or two. I’ve watched him paint many times and it never fails to amaze me how he can create such realistic features from layering and carving out color. This tribute was completely heartfelt; Paul is the same age as Kobe and also has a daughter named Capri. So many passers-by thanked him for “giving us a piece of Kobe back”. I’m so pleased to have been able to see “Kid Mamba” come to fruition."

Hotel Figueroa
939 S Figueroa St, Los Angeles 90015

Kobe Bryant takes flight in this mural by Gena Milanesi at In Sheep's Clothing in the Arts District.

@insheepsclothinghifi: "Thank you @gmilanesi for this beautiful tribute. Kobe meant so much to me. Being able to honor him is a blessing."

In Sheep's Clothing
710 E 4th Pl, Los Angeles 90013

Gena Milanesi painted a second image of Kobe Bryant with the 2001 NBA Championship Trophy at the Culver City location of Menotti's Coffee Stop.

@gmilanesi: "Kobe is an inspiration - quite literally in the early days of my career when studying subject matter in the sports realm, all the way to instilling the mamba mentality in life, itself. There’s a method to the madness when I put 8•24 on everything for good luck. His work ethic & dedication are unmatched as well as his love for family & for our city. These murals are for you, Los Angeles - my heart & my home. They’re intentionally life size so you take a minute to think of the memories he’s left us, remember how precious life is & keep his legacy alive, forever. Thanks for the walls & a few more Kobe memories for us. Love always, g"

Menotti's Coffee Stop
12430 Washington Blvd, Los Angeles 90066

A huge paste-up by LA-based artist Mr. Brainwash depicts Kobe and Gianna Bryant; on a side wall, Kobe is wearing his no. 8 jersey with one of his quotes in the background; there's also "MAMBA" and a tribute to all of the crash victims: "We Love You: Kobe, Gianna, John, Keri, Alyssa, Sarah, Payton, Christina, Ara." Visitors have been writing their personal messages on the mural. 

Mr. Brainwash Studio (next door to Sparadise)
1255 S. La Brea Ave., Los Angeles 90019

Artist Isaac Pelayo painted his first-ever mural, "Saint Kobe" at Nelson's Liquor in Burbank.

@isaacpelayo: "This is my first mural and I couldn’t be happier it’s of @kobebryant however, 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. I hope this shines even the tiniest glimpse of light in all that illuminates this city. Peace and love."

Nelson's Liquor
4420 W Victory Blvd, Burbank 91505

The first Kobe Bryant tribute mural was created by Venice-based artist muralist Jules Muck, who finished "Kobe & Gigi Forever" at the Pickford Market just hours after the tragic accident. Located just off Washington Boulevard in Mid-City, the mural quickly became a gathering spot for grief-stricken fans.

Pickford Market
4566 Pickford St., Los Angeles 90019

Local artist Sophie Mazzaro painted her Kobe Bryant mural at The Pier House in Venice Beach. A note on the mural reads: "This is a temporary location. Kobe's final mural will be transferred to the Venice Whaler for his forever tribute."

@mazzaro.art: "This has been the most emotional mural of my career so far. I wanted to pay tribute to one of the greatest athletes on this planet - and would have never thought it would turn out this way. Thank you to @thevenicewhaler and @pierhousevenice for providing us with the most perfect location for this tribute to a legend. Kobe was part of Los Angeles. Thank you for letting us honor him in the best way possible. The support of our neighborhood and community was overwhelming. Thank you for every single one of you that came by."

The Pier House
7 Washington Blvd, Venice 90291

Jules Muck's second Kobe Bryant tribute is located at Pink Dot on Sunset Boulevard. The mural was inspired by a story that Kobe shared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, back in 1996 when Bryant was new to the NBA and Fallon was a pre-SNL stand-up comic.

From @pinkdotla: "It’s been a hard week here in Los Angeles. Our love and prayers are with Kobe, Gigi, John, Keri, Alyssa, Christina, Sarah, Payton, Ara and all their families and friends. This mural is our tribute to their memories and our hope is that it brings Angelenos together to celebrate their lives."

Pink Dot
8495 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood 90069

Long Beach artist JCRo created this mural of Kobe Bryant in action at the Melrose location of Shoe Palace in 2016. In honor of Kobe's final NBA game on April 13, 2016, the portrait is made from 413 triangles. Kobe ended his career with a W, scoring 60 points against the Utah Jazz at STAPLES Center. After Bryant's death, the mural was covered by Post-It Notes with messages from fans.

Shoe Palace
7725 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles 90046

A stunning closeup of Kobe Bryant was created by Painted Prophet at Sorella Boutique on Melrose: "Thank you for all the love and support on the piece!! It’s the first Mural I’ve done on Melrose but def not the last!"

Sorella Boutique
7829 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles 90046

Artists continue to add Kobe and Gianna tributes to the Fame Yard at Sportie LA on Melrose.

Sportie LA
7753 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles 90046

@banditgraffiti (January 2020)
LA-based @banditgraffiti created this mural of Kobe and Gianna: "I’ve painted on the streets for ten years now and have had many different experiences however painting this tribute mural to Kobe and Gianna Bryant was unlike any other painting experience I’ve had. The entire time painting I had people coming up with tears in their eyes offering to either help, get me water, food, supplies, etc. I watched grown men tear up, families with daughters pose in front of the mural, and all walks of life come through to simply say thank you for the mural. It is tragic what happened to Kobe and all of those on board that helicopter but what happened in the city of Los Angeles following the tragedy was electrifying. In my years being in Los Angeles, I’ve never witnessed so much unity and respect from the community. People truly came together on a treasure hunt to seek out the new Kobe murals going up across the city. Kids, women, and men all dressed in Laker and Kobe attire talking with each other and mourning together. It’s hard to put into words what Los Angeles has become in the last 72 hours. You’d have to be there to understand. … Thank you @megzany and @sportiela for hooking up a wall space so quickly. @davenavarro @lifeafterdeathstreet for paint supplies, and Los Angeles for the energy you put out today."

In another IG post the next day, the artist invited the public to contribute to the mural: "Stop by and add your mark and words. … Remember, there were nine human lives that were lost. A few of them were teenage girls. Let’s continue the unity in Los Angeles."

@gz.jr + @bornxraised (February 2020)
Venice-based artist Gustavo Zermeño, Jr collaborated with @bornxraised on this Fame Yard mural of Kobe with the 2001 NBA Championship Trophy.

Shane Grammer (February 2020)
Shane Grammer described the process behind his Kobe mural in the Fame Yard: "Yesterday at 7am I started this @kobebryant memorial mural in @westhollywood CA. I finished it around 3pm painting in the Fame Yard at Sportie LA, Inc. It was amazing to see all the Kobe fans paying tribute to Kobe Bryant’s legacy with all the amazing Kobe Bryant murals throughout West Hollywood on Melrose Ave. His dedicated fans seamed to be endless. I used acrylic paint to buff out the wall then used spray paint from @montana_colors to create all the details and blending."

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of STAPLES Center's grand opening, Jonas Never created the "Welcome to LA" mural featuring LA champions, award winners and musicians:

• Kobe and Shaq hoist NBA championship trophies
• Kings captain Anze Kopitar raises the Stanley Cup
• Lisa Leslie with the Sparks' second consecutive WNBA Championship Trophy
• Clippers guard Lou Williams with his Sixth Man of the Year Award
• Kendrick Lamar at the 2016 GRAMMY Awards
• John Cena wins the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 21
• Taylor Swift
• Adele

Beautify Earth co-founder Ruben Rojas painted this mural of Kobe and Gianna at StorQuest Self Storage, located in Historic South Central a half-mile from Exposition Park.

@beautifyearth: "On this day we honor @kobebryant’s legacy and celebration of life alongside the city of Los Angeles and the rest of the world. Thank you, Mamba. This mural was painted by artist @rubenrojas for @storquest. In his words: This is for the city of Los Angeles. Let’s remember @kobebryant ‘s legacy not just on the court but beyond it, his impact on the world, the example of fatherhood and giving more than anyone will ever know. Here’s to embracing our self-doubts, chasing our own greatness, becoming the best versions of ourselves and living life to the fullest."

StorQuest Self Storage
‪3707 S Hill St, Los Angeles 90007‬

Art Gozukuchikyan (aka Artoon) painted this mural of Kobe and Gianna Bryant at VEM Exotic Rentals in Studio City. Artoon had previously painted Kobe murals - in "5 Rings" he's passing the ball to LeBron James, who had announced he would play for the Lakers. "I Am LA" depicts Kobe with his arms outstretched - his right hand is a black mamba with its jaws wrapped around a basketball.

In an interview with the LA Times, Gozukuchikyan said, “Life goes on. It’s on us to remember them. It’s not just art, it’s a documentation. We’re documenting what’s happening in modern times.”

VEM Exotic Rentals
11459 Ventura Blvd, Studio City 91604

Spanish tattoo artist Nerja Malaga (cheink84) painted this Kobe Bryant mural just off The Strand near the world-famous Venice Boardwalk.

PeQue painted the "Heart of a Legend" mural with a quote from Kobe: "Great things come from hard work and perseverance. No excuses." The mural is located at the Watts Civic Center, less than a mile from the iconic Watts Towers.

Watts Civic Center
1501 E 103rd St, Los Angeles 90002

LA-based artist Jazz Guetta has two Kobe Bryant murals at the World of Vintage T-Shirts on Melrose. The first piece depicts Kobe in action on Melrose. A newer, larger portrait was painted on a space on Spaulding around the corner from the store (aka “The Melrose Wall” on Guetta's Mural Archive). Previous images on The Melrose Wall include "The Marathon Continues" (Nipsey Hussle), "H3ating Up" (Dwayne Wade), and "The Final Spike" (Rob Gronkowski).

The World of Vintage T-Shirts
7701 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles 90046