ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – Weeks ago, crowds in Dallas watched as painters covered a large mural depicting whales and other marine life; now the mural\u2019s artist is suing those he says are responsible \u2014 for $25 million.<\/p>\n
Robert Wyland, who changed his legal name to Wyland, painted 103 whale murals across the world, including the one in Dallas, and one in Anchorage as well. The murals took decades to complete, and in covering the one in Dallas, Wyland says is a violation of Visual Artists Rights Act of 1990 (VARA).<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m going after the people that I believe were responsible for destroying a landmark, and one of the most popular public artworks in the city of Dallas,\u201d Wyland said in an interview.<\/p>\n
The lawsuit names FIFA and World Cup Organizers, along with building owners 3PZ Property Company, LLC and Slate Asset Management as defendants.<\/p>\n
A statement provided to the NBC-affiliated station in Dallas said \u201ca spokesperson for Slate Asset Management said the company was approached by Downtown Dallas Inc. and the North Texas FIFA World Cup organizing committee in March 2026 with a request to donate the wall space at 505 N. Akard St. for a new public art installation by a local Dallas artist.\u201d<\/p>\n
The spokesperson for Slate also said the company was not compensated for the use of the wall and \u201cwas told by the local groups that Mr. Wyland had been notified.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wyland says he was not notified ahead of time. He said his intent with the lawsuit is to set a precedent for his art and other public art. If Wyland wins the suit, he said he will donate all proceeds to charity.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor all intents and purposes, the artists are happy that I\u2019m sticking up, not only for my art, but for theirs and future artists. So I think it\u2019s one of the most important causes of our time,\u201d Wyland said. \u201cIf I can stand up to one of the largest sports organizations, FIFA, in the world, and take them on and win, yeah, there\u2019s not going to be many people wanting to come in and do what they did.\u201d<\/p>\n