Crews this week began painting over one of downtown Dallas’s most recognizable public artworks, the massive Whaling Wall mural on the side of a parking garage at 505 N. Akard Street.
The eight-story, roughly 170-foot-long artwork — officially Whaling Wall #82 — featured six life-size humpback whales swimming through an ocean scene with coral. World-renowned marine artist and conservationist Robert Wyland painted it in 1999 as part of his global series of more than 100 Whaling Walls designed to raise awareness about ocean conservation in landlocked cities.
For nearly 30 years the mural has been a downtown landmark, though it was hidden behind large outdoor advertisements for much of that time until the ads came down during the 2020 pandemic.
Crews this week began painting over one of downtown Dallas’s most recognizable public artworks, the massive Whaling Wall mural on the side of a parking garage at 505 N. Akard Street.
The decision to cover the whales is part of Downtown Dallas Inc.’s broader push to install fresh murals across the city center ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Dallas will host more matches than any other host city during the tournament, and organizers have commissioned new public art to welcome hundreds of thousands of international visitors and create a more vibrant atmosphere in key areas.
Many residents voiced disappointment on social media as solid blue paint began covering the whales, calling the original piece an iconic part of the skyline. While the new World Cup-themed mural will temporarily replace Wyland’s work, the change reflects the city’s effort to refresh public spaces for the global spotlight next summer.
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