January 26, 2022, marked the two-year anniversary of the tragic deaths of Kobe Bryant, Gianna (Gigi) Bryant, and seven others. And in honor of the basketball star and his daughter, a new statue has been placed at the crash site, and numerous murals have been painted to celebrate not just their lives, but their legacies.
The 160-pound bronze statue, created by sculptor Dan Medina, shows Kobe in his Lakers uniform, arm around Gianna. She is also wearing a uniform and holding a basketball. The two of them are smiling at each other. On its base, the names of the Bryants and the seven other victims of the helicopter crash can be read: John, Keri, and Alyssa Altobelli, Christina Mauser, Sarah and Payton Chester, and pilot Ara Zobayan.
Other artists have also celebrated Kobe and Gianna – as well as the other victims – through art. Artist Andaluz debuted a painting on his Instagram that has made people very emotional.
He’s not the only one, and the tributes are not limited to the United States, either. Zudiote Lacustomcream painted this mural on a basketball court in Barcelona in 2020, a reminder that sometimes, legacies can go way beyond borders.
Grief is a long, winding road that doesn’t always have a set ending, but we hope the proof that Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gigi live in people’s hearts is at least some comfort for Vanessa, Natalia, Bianka, and Capri Byrant.
