Artist Chris Carlson lives in Denver. He’s a Nuggets fan. He might not be the most obvious choice to paint a mural based on the Lakers legend in Los Angeles.
“I have a complicated relationship with the Lakers,” Carlson told The Times in an email interview. “I’m from Denver, growing up as a Nuggets fan, and I watched the Lakers knock us out of the playoffs every season. [Carmelo Anthony] Year.
However, Carlson was a huge admirer of Kobe Bryant, so he jumped at the chance to paint a mural highlighting the image of Kobe and his Black Mamba next to the basketball court in Venice Beach, commissioned by Nike .
“I’m definitely a Kobe fan!” Carlson wrote. “His skills are unparalleled and his work ethic is inspiring. A lot of his philosophies about striving to be a better athlete can be applied to becoming a better artist. Things like embracing discomfort and pushing beyond your perceived limits really inspire My vibe.
Carlson and Indiana artist Nate Baranowski completed painting the legendary mural this month. As can be seen from the photo, Kobe’s face is full of anger. A giant snake appears to break through the painting and wrap itself around Bryant, with their heads side by side. The top is decorated with Nike’s Swoosh logo and slogan: “This isn’t the Year of the Snake. This is the Year of the Mamba.
Mike Asner, who runs KobeMural.com, posted a video of the mural on the site’s Instagram page this week, and the post went viral, racking up 2 million views and 187,000 likes in three days. .
“This is not normal,” Asner said.
Asner said he thinks people are attracted to the mural’s “realism and 3D nature.”
“People are going crazy about this,” Asner said. “I’ve never seen people so crazy about a mural.”
Here’s more from The Times’ interview with Carlson. Questions and answers have been edited for length and clarity.
How did this project come about?
Nike contacted me about creating this mural in Venice Beach. They had an idea to incorporate 3D illusion and trompe l’oeil effects into a mural they were planning in Kobe, and since optical illusion murals are my specialty, they contacted me. I loved their concept and was excited when they chose me to work on this project.
What was the inspiration for the design?
The design started with the black mamba (snake). I wanted the snake to wrap around Kobe’s portrait to show that the two are connected and forever connected. Having the mamba break through the wall helped create a feeling of intensity and power that I really wanted to capture in the mural. It’s like Kobe and Mamba are challenging us to be the best version of ourselves. The architectural elements in the corners are Kobe’s signature. I think they help draw the viewer’s eye to the middle of the mural.
How do people respond when you do this work?
The reaction from people on the field while we were painting was amazing! As soon as people saw that it was a mural in Kobe, they started to get excited. This was one of my favorite painting experiences because we got public encouragement as we painted.
How is this project different from your usual work?
This is my largest mural to date, so it presented some different challenges. But it also gives the artwork a greater visual impact. I don’t usually paint in such a famous place. I am honored to paint a mural featuring an iconic figure like Kobe Bryant in an iconic location such as the Venice Beach basketball court.
