Trending Now - Beloved Dallas Whale Mural Replaced Ahead of World Cup
WHO:
AP News - The mural, titled "Whaling Wall 82," was dedicated in 1999.
AP News - Wyland has painted over 100 similar murals known as Whaling Walls around the world.
ABC News - The mural was painted by Wyland, a marine artist.
The New York Times - Wyland is 69 years old.
WHAT:
AP News - A spokesperson for the World Cup organizing committee stated that a "portion" of Wyland's mural will be preserved "as a tribute to its lasting impact on the city."
AP News - Work has been underway this month to paint over the mural that has graced two entire walls of a parking garage for nearly 30 years.
AP News - The petition started by Katy Rose Cusick and Joshua Hurston has gotten hundreds of signatures so far.
AP News - A spokesperson for the World Cup organizing committee stated they are looking forward to “unveiling a new piece that captures this current historical moment and reflects the energy, unity, and global spirit surrounding the World Cup 2026.”
AP News - The retractable roof venue will be called Dallas Stadium for the World Cup.
ABC News - A beloved whale mural in Dallas was replaced with art related to the upcoming World Cup matches.
The New York Times - The mural of blue whales was painted over with blue paint by crews on forklifts ahead of the FIFA World Cup.
WHERE:
AP News - Dallas is hosting more World Cup matches than any of the other sites in the event co-hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, with nine matches set to be played at AT&T Stadium in suburban Arlington.
The New York Times - The mural was located on the side of a downtown Dallas building.
WHY:
AP News - Wyland expressed that the mural's destruction raises serious questions about how we value public art, artists, and the communities these works were created to serve.
AP News - Wyland expressed that the destruction of the mural raises serious questions about how we value public art, artists, and the communities these works were created to serve.
The New York Times - The mural was covered to make way for a new project celebrating the upcoming FIFA World Cup.
HOW:
AP News - A spokesperson for the building's owners, Slate Asset Management, stated they were approached by Downtown Dallas Inc. and the organizing committee earlier this year about donating the wall for a new public art installation by a local artist.
AP News - Downtown Dallas Inc. confirmed it was part of the early discussions about the mural and that it wasn’t part of the city’s public art collection before introducing the World Cup organizing committee to the building’s owners.
The New York Times - Crews used forklifts to paint over the mural.
(UPDATED May 20, 2026 17:56 UTC)
A portion of Wyland's mural, "Whaling Wall 82," will be preserved as a tribute to its lasting impact on Dallas, where the World Cup will feature more matches than any other site, with nine games scheduled at AT&T Stadium. Wyland, who has created over 100 similar murals worldwide, raised concerns about the value of public art and the communities they serve in light of the mural's potential destruction. The building's owners, Slate Asset Management, were approached earlier this year by Downtown Dallas Inc. and the organizing committee about donating the wall for a new public art installation by a local artist.
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(UPDATED May 20, 2026 08:08 UTC)
Work is currently underway to paint over a mural that has adorned two walls of a parking garage in Dallas for nearly 30 years, sparking a petition led by Katy Rose Cusick and Joshua Hurston that has gathered hundreds of signatures. A spokesperson for the World Cup organizing committee expressed excitement about unveiling a new piece of art that will reflect the energy and unity surrounding the upcoming World Cup 2026, which will be hosted at the newly named Dallas Stadium. Wyland, an artist involved in the discussions, raised concerns about the implications of removing public art and the value we place on artists and the communities they serve.
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(UPDATED May 20, 2026 04:21 UTC)
A beloved whale mural painted by marine artist Wyland in downtown Dallas has been replaced with new artwork in preparation for the upcoming FIFA World Cup. The iconic blue whales were covered with blue paint by crews using forklifts to make way for this new project. Wyland, who is currently 69 years old, created the mural that has now been painted over ahead of the highly anticipated matches.