A heartbreaking mural of late basketball legend Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna, has appeared on a Los Angeles wall just hours after the pair were tragically killed in a helicopter crash.
According to Los Angeles Daily News, street artist Jules Muck quickly got to work creating the stunning memorial the same morning the rest of the world was still struggling to come to terms with the devastating news.
Everyone aboard the aircraft, including Bryant's 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, was killed in the crash, CNN reported.
The helicopter had been en route to a basketball game in Thousand Oaks where Gianna and two other young girls aboard were going to play in a basketball game, coached by Bryant.
Putting aside her shock, the Venice-based artist put out a call for available mural locations and jumped on the first one she found.
By 4 p.m. on January 26, less than 12 hours after the crash, Los Angeles had a new mural featuring a Kobe and Gianna smiling and pressed cheek to cheek. Next to their profiles is a scrolling banner which reads, "Kobe & Gigi, Forever Daddy's Girl."
As Los Angeles Daily News reported, the site has seen a flood of mourners come to pay their respects to the pair, and have started leaving candles and flowers beneath the mural.
Muck said her memorial is an expression of grief, and an attempt to start the healing process after experiencing the immense loss of a global icon and his daughter.
"It's just something for the block and the block turns out to be right in the center of L.A., which is perfect," she said. "I think it's the best way for people to heal, so I'm glad to be of service and support."
Since news broke of the tragic crash, visitors have flocked to the memorial and papered the purple walls with colorful post-it notes, the Los Angeles Times reported.
"Kobe you were king of LA and legend of basketball R.I.P. bro," one read.
Another, "Thank you mamba for showing us what it means to be a champion."
