US artist sues FIFA over destruction of Dallas whale mural for World Cup
Summary
A U.S. artist named Robert Wyland sued FIFA and others for $25 million because they painted over his large whale mural in Dallas without his permission. The mural had been on the building for nearly 30 years, and Wyland says destroying it broke a federal law protecting public artwork.Key Facts
- Robert Wyland painted a large whale mural called "Whaling Wall 82" on a Dallas building in 1999.
- The mural covered about 1,580 square meters (17,000 square feet) on two walls.
- Last month, the mural was painted over to make space for new World Cup 2026 artwork.
- Wyland filed a lawsuit in Dallas federal court claiming violations of the Visual Artists Rights Act of 1990.
- He is seeking at least $25 million in damages for the destruction of his mural.
- FIFA denies direct involvement and refers to the local World Cup organizing committee.
- The building owner said local organizers asked them to donate the wall space and claimed Wyland was notified, which he disputes.
- An online petition to protect public art in Dallas has gathered more than 2,600 signatures.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.