An artist who created a giant mural in downtown Dallas featuring life-sized whales has filed a $25 million lawsuit. The suit targets soccer’s international governing body and others, alleging they painted over the mural to promote upcoming World Cup matches.
Wyland, the artist, hand-painted the mural, which spanned approximately 17,000 square feet across two walls of a building. This artwork had stood for almost 30 years before it was painted over last month. The mural’s removal drew backlash from local residents who valued its size and ocean conservation message.
The World Cup organizing committee for the city stated that new artwork would replace Wyland’s mural. They intend for the new art to reflect the current historical context and the unity surrounding World Cup 2026. A portion of Wyland’s mural will be preserved, according to their statement.
Wyland has taken legal action in U.S. District Court, Dallas, claiming that World Cup organizers and the building’s owner violated consent laws by erasing his mural without notifying him. A 1990 federal law, aimed at protecting artists’ visual works from unauthorized destruction, underpins his lawsuit. Wyland seeks damages of at least $25 million, asserting that FIFA and other parties hastily destroyed a civic landmark for World Cup promotion.
A FIFA spokesperson has denied involvement, directing inquiries to the local organizing committee. Slate Asset Management, managing the building, stated that World Cup organizers requested space for new public art and claimed Wyland had been informed.
Known as “Whaling Wall 82,” Wyland’s mural, completed in 1999, is part of a global series promoting ocean life conservation. As part of efforts to halt the mural’s destruction, an online petition has gained more than 2,600 signatures.
The lawsuit invokes the Visual Artists Rights Act. This law safeguards art of recognized significance from destruction, irrespective of the artwork’s physical ownership. A judge referenced this law in a 2018 ruling, awarding $6.7 million to New York graffiti artists after their murals were destroyed by a property owner.
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