An artist with ties to Detroit is suing the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) and the city of Dallas, alleging that a giant whale mural was covered without his permission as the city prepares for upcoming World Cup matches.
Artist Robert Wyland says his hand-painted mural, which had been displayed for nearly three decades, was painted over by workers last month without notice or consent.
Wyland filed the lawsuit on Tuesday (June 2), seeking at least $25 million in damages.
According to the complaint, the mural remained in place for nearly 30 years before crews began covering it as part of preparations tied to Dallas’ hosting of World Cup events.
Wyland claims he was never informed of the decision to remove or obscure the artwork.
In Detroit, Wyland’s whale mural on the Broaddrick Tower remains partially obscured by advertisements.
The piece, originally painted in 1997, has been increasingly hidden in recent years.
Wyland has said he was previously told it would cost roughly $500,000 annually to keep the Detroit mural uncovered.
He is now calling on residents to advocate for stronger protections for public art and greater transparency when large-scale works are altered or removed.