Artist suing FIFA over destruction of Dallas whale mural before World Cup
Artist Wyland sued FIFA and others for $25 million over the destruction of his 17,000-square-foot Dallas whale mural, claiming violations of the Visual Artists Rights Act. The mural, titled *Whaling Wall 82*, was painted over without his consent to make way for World Cup 2026 promotional artwork, sparking local outrage and an online petition with over 2,600 signatures.
Artist Wyland has filed a $25 million lawsuit against FIFA, the North Texas FWC Organizing Committee, and the building’s management company, Slate Asset Management, for illegally painting over his 1999 mural in downtown Dallas. The mural, covering 17,000 square feet across two walls, depicted life-sized swimming whales and stood for nearly three decades before being destroyed last month to prepare for World Cup 2026 matches. Wyland claims the defendants violated the 1990 Visual Artists Rights Act, which protects publicly displayed works of recognized stature, even if ownership of the physical space lies with others. The lawsuit alleges FIFA and local organizers acted hastily to replace the mural with new artwork celebrating the World Cup’s ‘energy, unity, and global spirit,’ while failing to notify Wyland or seek his consent. A FIFA spokesperson denied involvement, directing reporters to the local organizing committee, which declined to comment. Slate Asset Management stated it was asked in March to donate wall space for a new public art installation and claimed Wyland had been notified, though Wyland disputes this. Wyland’s *Whaling Wall 82* is one of over 100 similar murals he created worldwide to promote ocean conservation. The destruction has sparked backlash, with an online petition calling for the protection of public artwork in Dallas garnering over 2,600 signatures. The lawsuit cites a 2018 federal court ruling, where a judge ordered a property owner to pay $6.7 million to graffiti artists after whitewashing their murals in Queens, New York. Dallas is hosting nine World Cup matches at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, the most of any U.S. host city. Wyland’s legal team argues the mural was a civic landmark, and its destruction was an irreversible act of defacement to promote the tournament. The case hinges on whether the artwork qualifies under the Visual Artists Rights Act, which protects works of ‘recognized stature’ from unauthorized destruction.
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