arts
Artist sues for $25 million over destruction of Dallas whale mural
By NBC DFW
· June 1, 2026
· 3 min read
Weeks after his iconic whale mural was painted over in downtown Dallas, marine artist Robert Wyland is taking the fight to federal court. The artist behind the mural, which had stood in downtown Dallas since 1999, filed a lawsuit Monday against FIFA, FIFA affiliates and the owners and managers of th
Key takeaway At the center of the dispute is "Ocean Life," also known as Whaling Wall 82, an approximately 17,000-square-foot mural Wyland painted in 1999 on the side of a downtown Dallas building.
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Category: arts ·
Published: June 1, 2026 ·
Source: NBC DFW ·
Reading time: 3 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? Weeks after his iconic whale mural was painted over in downtown Dallas, marine artist Robert Wyland is taking the fight to federal court. The artist behind the mural, which had stood in downtown Dallas since 1999, filed a lawsuit Monday against FIFA, FIFA affiliates and the owners and managers of th
When was this published? This article was first published on June 1, 2026 by NBC DFW and curated for The Fort Worth readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by NBC DFW. To learn more about how The Fort Worth selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more arts coverage from The Fort Worth, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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