Additional Coverage:
- An outcry erupts as a whale mural beloved by many in Dallas is replaced with art for the World Cup (apnews.com)
Dallas World Cup Preparations Spark Controversy Over Removal of Iconic Whale Mural
DALLAS – As the city gears up to host a series of World Cup matches this summer, a longtime public artwork downtown is stirring debate. The beloved giant mural featuring swimming whales, which has adorned two walls of a parking garage for nearly three decades, is being painted over to make room for new World Cup-themed art.
Local high school seniors Katy Rose Cusick and Joshua Hurston, who attend a performing and visual arts school, were taken aback by the mural’s sudden removal. “I saw that mural almost every day on my way to school, and then one day they started painting right over it,” Cusick said. “It was incredibly shocking how quickly it happened.”
The original artist, Wyland, expressed deep disappointment over the mural’s destruction. Known globally for his “Whaling Walls” series dedicated to ocean conservation, Wyland stressed the significance of public art as a community treasure. “When a piece that has carried meaning for generations can be erased without dialogue, it raises serious questions about how we value public art, artists, and the communities these works were created to serve,” he stated.
In response, Cusick and Hurston launched a petition on Change.org to raise awareness about protecting public art and preserving cultural history. The petition has attracted hundreds of signatures, including from residents who fondly remember the mural from their childhoods. Hurston emphasized their hope “that even if we couldn’t save this mural, something like this doesn’t happen again.”
Representatives from the World Cup organizing committee said they are eager to unveil a new public artwork that reflects the excitement and unity of the 2026 tournament. They assured that a portion of Wyland’s mural will be preserved as a tribute to its lasting impact on Dallas.
Dallas will host more World Cup matches than any other city during the event co-hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Nine games are scheduled at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, which will be temporarily renamed Dallas Stadium for the tournament.
Downtown Dallas Inc., involved in the planning process, confirmed that the mural was not part of the city’s official public art collection. The building’s owners, Slate Asset Management, said they were approached earlier this year about donating the mural wall space for a new installation by a local artist in connection with the World Cup.
Wyland’s “Whaling Wall 82,” painted in 1999, was one of over 100 such murals worldwide aimed at raising awareness for ocean conservation. “This was more than paint on a wall – it was part of my work, alongside the Wyland Foundation, to bring people together to protect our oceans and clean water,” he said.
As Dallas prepares to welcome the world’s biggest soccer event, the conversation about balancing new cultural moments with preserving existing community art continues to unfold.