Basketball legend Kobe Bryant died in a tragic helicopter accident on January 26, 2020. In the five years since his death, tributes for him and his daughter Gigi, who also passed away, have sprouted around the world. The most powerful tributes are arguably in his beloved hometown of Los Angeles. As the Lunar New Year brings the Year of the Snake, artists Chris Carlson and Nate Baranowski have taken this motif and turned it into the “Year of the Mamba”—a nod to Bryant’s self-given nickname, Black Mamba.
The new mural, located in Venice Beach, was commissioned by Nike, which has a deal with the late player’s estate. “They had a concept to include 3D effects in the mural, and since that is my specialty, they reached out to me about the project,” Carlson tells My Modern Met. “I loved the concept and I was thrilled when they selected me for the project.”
For the design, Carlson drew from Kobe’s nickname. “I knew I wanted to include a snake in the design. And I wanted the snake breaking through the wall to bring intensity and movement to the mural,” Carlson shares. “The snake coils around Kobe in a way that shows the two are forever connected. This mural is painted on a large wall next to the Venice Beach basketball courts. So it’s like Kobe and the snake are looking out at the people playing basketball, challenging them to be the best versions of themselves.”
Carlson, a Denver-based creative, reveals that he was a fan of Bryant before working on this project. “His skills and intensity as a player were amazing and his work ethic was really inspirational to me,” the artist says. “A lot of his philosophies about becoming a better athlete can be applied to becoming a better artist. Like embracing discomfort and pushing past your perceived limits.”
The artist relates to this feeling, as he holds the demands that surround murals in high regard. “As an artist, I’m drawn to the challenge of large-scale works. It can be really intimidating when I arrive at a big blank wall. But I love the feeling of accomplishment I get when I finish a large project after overcoming all of the obstacles that come with painting at such a large scale.”
In the end, these are all worth it, as they can have a visible effect on the place where they are painted. “I love murals because of the huge visual impact they can have,” he says. “A mural can totally change the feeling of a location. A mural can also help bring a community together or create a sense of pride.”
Ultimately, the artist hopes his work will get people talking to one another. “I think 3D optical illusions are great for bringing people together because everyone can share in the feeling of curiosity and excitement about this flat painting that appears to be jumping off the wall or ground,” Carlson says. “I also hope my work might inspire people to create art. My life was changed when I saw 3D artwork online and it would be awesome if I could pay that forward to someone else in the world.”
Artists Chris Carlson and Nate Baranowski honor the late Kobe Bryant with a new mural in Venice Beach.
This Kobe Bryant mural takes the Year of the Snake and turns it into a “Year of the Mamba”—a nod to his nickname, Black Mamba.
The mural was commissioned by Nike, which has a deal with the late player’s estate.
“I knew I wanted to include a snake in the design. And I wanted the snake breaking through the wall to bring intensity and movement to the mural,” Carlson shares.
“This mural is painted on a large wall next to the Venice Beach basketball courts…”
“…so it’s like Kobe and the snake are looking out at the people playing basketball, challenging them to be the best versions of themselves.”
