Artists celebrate 'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever' with murals across the country

NEW YORK -- "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever," was celebrated by three artists in Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York who had the opportunity to create their own murals in honor of the long-awaited sequel. "People want to see images that look like them that are empowered and not alienated," artist Rahmaan Statik says of these murals' importance. "Everyone deserves their own Mount Rushmore, Mount Rushmore style mural," he adds.

Marvel partnered with Lilia "Liliflor" Ramirez, Vince Ballentine, and Rahmann Statik to create artwork inspired by the film. "Wakanda is a place that a lot of people wish they could go to," says Ballentine. "It's a place that if it did exist in real-world terms, I would be on a plane, going there right now," he explains of his excitement in working on this project.

Each artist was hopeful of their mural's ability to connect with the community around it. "I want people to look at it, make them connect to their own culture, whether you are Black or brown," says Ramirez.

"Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" premiered in theaters on November 11. Marvel Studios is a division of Disney, the parent company of ABC Localish.

You can visit the murals at the following locations:

Los Angeles - 4560 Whittier Blvd. (By Lilia "LiliFlor" Ramirez)

New York - 280 Malcolm X Blvd. (By Vincent Ballentine)

Chicago - 608 E 61st St. (By Rahmaan Statik)