DALLAS, Texas — Crews this week began painting over the “Ocean Life” mural at 505 N. Akard Street, a large-scale artwork created in 1999 by marine artist Robert Wyland as part of a nationwide conservation campaign.
The mural, also known as “Whaling Wall 82,” was one of 100 murals painted across the United States through the Wyland Foundation to promote marine conservation awareness.
People who visited the site on Thursday described the mural as a recognizable part of downtown Dallas and expressed disappointment over its removal.
Ray Hostetler, who said he frequently passed the mural while walking to the Katy Trail, described it as “something beautiful in the middle of a concrete jungle.”
Wally Waites, who works nearby, said he was surprised to see blue paint covering the mural and hoped a replacement project was planned for the site.
Photographer Mark Levine, who has documented the mural for years, said the removal represented the loss of part of the city’s history.
After inquiries from NBC 5, a spokesperson for the North Texas FIFA World Cup Organizing Committee said the new mural project aims to promote and celebrate the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The spokesperson said the project is being completed in partnership with the organizing committee and Slate Asset Management, which owns the building.
Organizers also said part of the original mural would remain preserved in recognition of its cultural and historical significance.