Black Panther Culture Portrait Symbolism Overview

WAKANDA FOREVER Culture Portrait | Back Story + Symbolism

A tribute to Black Panther

Green wall with Yellow Painting of Queen over a brown leather couch.

THE BACK STORY

Wakanda Forever: the 4th in the Culture Portrait Series

Coming soon!

Live Painting

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THE SYMBOLISM

Detail of Black Panther painting: Panther reuniting with his love in the town square.

Black Panther reunites with his love in the town square.

Detail of Black Panther painting: portraits of the Wakanda tribes.

Wakandan tribes are on the side of the mountain. M'Baku is outside the arm/ estranged from them.

Detail of Black Panther painting: Black Panther and M'Baku fighting in the water at the edge of the waterfall.

Panther duels with M'Baku for his father's crown and seat on the throne.

Detail of Black Panther painting: Black Panther in the afterlife with his father. Large black tree in front of a sunset of orange and yellow.

Black Panther speaks with his father in the afterlife.

Detail of Black Panther painting: Kilmonger African mask

Detail of Black Panther painting: young Kilmonger holding his murdered father

Kilmonger's back story is located on the right side of the painting. His mask, a reward for criminal activity, was one of my favorite parts to paint. The story also shows his father being killed and Kilmonger, as a child, finding his murdered father.

Detail of Black Panther painting: Kilmonger burning the purple flower

Right behind Black Panther on the throne, is Kilmonger, full of rage, burning the precious purple flowers that give Black Panther his power. This scene reminds me of an African proverb visually: "The youth, if not initiated into the tribe, will burn down the village just to feel its warmth."

Detail of Black Panther painting: the final battle for Wakanda.

Detail of Black Panther painting: Black Panther on his throne.

These final two details depict the final battle for the throne and, finally, Black Panther on his throne set to lead Wakanda to victory and prosperity.