Wyland sues FIFA, property owners over Dallas whale mural destruction
The artist alleged his landmark Dallas mural was painted over without consent ahead of the 2026 tournament in violation of federal law.
Environmental artist Wyland has filed a federal lawsuit seeking at least $25 million after his decades-old whale mural in downtown Dallas was painted over for World Cup-related artwork.
The lawsuit, filed Monday in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, accuses FIFA, FIFA Americas, FWC2026 US, building owner 3PZ Property Company and Slate Asset Management of violating the federal Visual Artists Rights Act by destroying the mural without the artist's consent.
At the center of the dispute is Ocean Life, also known as Whaling Wall 82, an eight-story mural completed by Wyland in 1999 on the exterior of a downtown Dallas building. The mural spanned roughly 17,000 square feet and depicted life-sized humpback whales, dolphins and other marine life.
The work became a “beloved landmark” in the city and remained for nearly three decades before crews began painting over it in May, according to the complaint.
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Court Documents: Wyland v. FIFA Over Dallas Mural
Court records from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas.
Adam Schrader
The lawsuit portrays the mural as one of the most prominent entries in Wyland's global Whaling Wall series, a project aimed at promoting marine conservation through large-scale public art.
It was dedicated by former NFL player Herschel Walker and JCPenney, and former Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk presented Wyland with a key to the city in recognition of the work's significance, according to Wyland.
Wyland alleged in his lawsuit that FIFA and its co-defendants intentionally destroyed a work of "recognized stature" protected under VARA. The law grants artists limited moral rights over certain visual art, including protection against intentional destruction of qualifying works.
"Without seeking Wyland's consent, Defendants collectively caused the Dallas Whaling Wall Mural to be intentionally painted over and permanently destroyed," the lawsuit alleged. It said no written waiver was obtained from the artist before the mural was covered.
The complaint says the mural was painted over for the 2026 FIFA World Cup promotional artwork in Dallas and that FIFA authorized and benefited from the replacement.
The lawsuit cited public statements from organizers indicating the mural would be replaced with artwork intended to "celebrate and build excitement" for the tournament.
Wyland did not return Urgent Matter’s previous request for comment.
FIFA has disputed responsibility. A FIFA spokesperson told the Associated Press that the organization had "no involvement in this whatsoever" and referred questions to local organizers. Slate Asset Management said local World Cup organizers requested use of the wall and that it had been told Wyland was notified.
The case could become a significant test of artists' rights under VARA. The complaint cited the well-known 5Pointz litigation in New York, where a federal court awarded millions of dollars to graffiti artists after a property owner whitewashed their murals.
Follow along with other lawsuits at Urgent Matter's art lawsuit tracker.
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