Kobe Bryant’s Legacy Lives On Through Los Angeles Murals

In Los Angeles, Kobe Bryant remains a larger-than-life figure, immortalized in over 600 murals worldwide—most of them adorning walls across Southern California.

In Los Angeles, Kobe Bryant remains a larger-than-life figure, immortalized in over 600 murals worldwide—most of them adorning walls across Southern California. These artworks honor the basketball icon, who tragically passed away in 2020 alongside his daughter Gianna and seven others in a helicopter crash.

One of the most poignant tributes is a mural on the side of a downtown gym, where Kobe and Gianna are depicted as angels in the clouds. Nearby, a faded script reads, “Do not touch this mural.” Remarkably, no one has. This mural, like many others, has become a sacred space, reflecting the profound respect for Bryant’s legacy.

“Kobe crossed over into superhero status,” said artist Jonas Never, whose mural near the Lakers’ former Staples Center home became a site of mourning after Bryant’s death. “L.A. is such a big, spread-out city, and seeing everyone come together over Kobe was incredible.”

Artists like Kay Luz and Louie Palsino have poured their hearts into these tributes. Luz’s mural at Venice Beach shows Kobe and Gianna in their jerseys, framed by the Lakers’ signature purple and gold. Palsino, known as Sloe Motions, painted a biblical-style mural of Kobe and Gianna with angelic wings. Public outcry, including a petition signed by over 90,000 people, saved this mural from removal, underscoring the city’s emotional connection to Bryant.

Bryant’s influence extended far beyond the court. His “Mamba Mentality,” Olympic gold medals, and two-decade career with the Lakers inspired generations of fans and athletes worldwide. Murals are the city’s way of keeping his spirit alive—a reminder of what he represented to Los Angeles: excellence, resilience, and unity.

As Palsino put it, “What we love and represent, we want to put it out there on our walls.” For Los Angeles, that love for Kobe Bryant will never fade.