DETROIT – Robert Wyland, the artist behind the iconic whale mural outside Comerica Park in Detroit, is fighting to keep his work visible after it has been repeatedly covered by advertisements.
Wyland painted the mural on the Broadick Tower in 1997.
The mural, featuring a humpback whale, has become a well-known sight in Detroit.
However, in recent years, it has been obscured by ads, especially during baseball season.
“I painted 103 of those ocean murals, all unique, and Detroit was very special for me,” said Wyland. “So to see it covered up like that. It’s special because Detroit is home for me.”
Though whales may seem out of place in Detroit, Wyland explains the significance of the mural.
“People at first said, ‘Why are you painting whales in Detroit?’ I wanted to call attention to the connection of freshwater habitats, the Great Lakes, to the ocean. I wanted people to kind of wake up a little.”
Unfortunately, the mural’s message has been overshadowed by advertising.
Wyland says he has been told it would cost more than $500,000 annually to reclaim the space from advertisers.
“If they can get away with this, then all public art is exposed,” Wyland said.
He is urging Detroit residents to speak up to protect public art throughout the city.
“The only way we’re going to get it off the wall is if Detroiters speak up,” Wyland said.
The advertising space is managed by Skies Above Media, which declined to comment on the situation.
Wyland is now collaborating with state leaders to explore options for preserving the mural.