Artist Wyland outraged as Dallas, FIFA paint over his iconic whale mural for World Cup artwork

Source: New York Post

A conservation artist has blasted FIFA and Dallas decision-makers who painted over his iconic whale mural ahead of the 2026 World Cup — with country star Kacey Musgraves joining those frustrated over the decision. Robert Wyland, known mononymously as Wyland, said he was never asked for permission before workers covered the massive “Ocean Life” mural in blue paint this week — more than 25 years after he painted it in downtown Dallas — in place of FIFA’s own artwork. “That’s a lie with a capital L,” Wyland told FOX 4 after a North Texas FIFA committee member claimed they had contacted him about replacing the artwork for this summer’s World Cup.