Robert Wyland, the artist behind the iconic 'whaling walls' murals, is suing Fifa for $25m after his Dallas mural was painted over to make way for a World Cup promotion. The 82ft-tall mural, titled Ocean Life, had been a fixture in the city for nearly 30 years before being covered without warning.
Wyland, 69, who legally changed his name to simply 'Wyland', learned of the cover-up when his assistant told him the wall was being whitewashed. 'I was shocked. It really caught me off guard,' he said. The mural was erased to make way for a new one promoting the upcoming Fifa World Cup.
Wyland's team filed a cease and desist, followed by a lawsuit seeking $25m in damages. 'This is a David and Goliath thing for sure,' Wyland said. 'They are a multibillion-dollar organisation, and I am a single artist with a small foundation. But I tell you, they picked the wrong artist and the wrong artwork.'
The mural was among Wyland's favourites, and he had planned to touch it up soon. The destruction has sparked widespread outcry and raised questions about the ownership of public art. Wyland's whaling walls span 17 countries, with many becoming beloved landmarks.
