Dallas whaling wall artist sues FIFA for $25 million after mural covered
DALLAS - The artist behind the iconic whaling wall in Dallas is seeking legal action now that his mural has been covered in blue paint. He’s suing FIFA for $25 million.
Dallas Whaling Wall
The backstory:
The world-famous environmental artist known simply as Wyland painted the whales in Downtown Dallas nearly 30 years ago to promote awareness of marine pollution. He even received a key to the city of Dallas when the piece was finished in 1999.
Wyland’s work includes 100 large murals in landlocked cities across the globe. The eight-story Dallas mural spanned two sides of the building at 505 North Akard Street.
Then last month, crews began painting over it to make way for a mural promoting the FIFA World Cup. Only a small portion remains untouched.
Dallas replacing Whaling Wall gifted by conservationist with FIFA World Cup mural
A nearly 30-year-old mural gifted to the City of Dallas by a conservationist artist is being painted over ahead of the FIFA World Cup.
What's new:
A new lawsuit blames FIFA for authorizing the destruction of the mural, saying "though FIFA claims they are working to develop art for the host city, in truth, they defaced a historic fixture of the host city."
The suit alleges that the mural was destroyed without proper notice, consultation, or consent from the artist.
It also names the building’s managers and owners as defendants, who the lawsuit claims approved covering the mural.
'They picked the wrong artist': Wyland takes legal action over erased Dallas 'Whaling Wall' mural
A Dallas artist is taking legal action after his iconic whale mural in downtown Dallas was painted over to make room for a World Cup display.
The other side:
FOX 4 has reached out to FIFA for a response to the lawsuit and explanation of what will be going up in its place but has not heard back.
The Source: The information in this story comes from a newly filed lawsuit and past news coverage.