Robert Wyland

Wyland painting a mural on a former military barracks now part of the Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge
Wyland's signature on a mural at the Long Beach Arena

Robert Wyland (born 1956), commonly known as Wyland, is an American artist best known for his 100 Whaling Walls, large outdoor murals featuring images of life-size whales, and other sea life.[1]

Life and career

A native of Madison Heights, Michigan, Wyland began painting as a child and attended Detroit's Center for Creative Studies in the 1970s.[2] Wyland's connection with whales began when he was 14 on a visit with his family to Laguna Beach, California where he saw the ocean for the first time and witnessed several gray whales migrating down the California coast towards Mexico. In 1977 he moved to Laguna Beach and in 1981 painted the first of his 100 Whaling Walls at a Laguna Beach parking lot.

By 1997, his commercial work (sold through 25 Wyland galleries) and licensed merchandise sold at zoos and other outlets had become a multimillion-dollar business.[3][4] His artwork has been used on specialty license plates in California and Florida and for a series of four United nations stamps issued in 2010 to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission.[5][6]

In 1993, he founded the non-profit Wyland Foundation "to help children rediscover the wonder of the ocean through art" (according to Steve Creech, the foundation's Executive Director)[7] and to finance his Whaling Wall murals.[8] Wyland's 100th and final Whaling Wall was painted in Beijing in 2008.[9] His foundation has since expanded its work to include other environmental initiatives such as sponsorship of the National Mayor's Challenge for Water Conservation.[10]

Wyland lives both in Laguna Beach and in Hawaii.[11]

References

  1. ↑ Gould, Whitney (9 June 1997). "Whaling Wall' Project Offers A Lot To Ponder, As Well As See". Milwaukee Sentinel. Retrieved 11 September 2014.
  2. ↑ Arrellano, Christopher (24 April 1993). "Artist In Town To Check Out His 'canvas'", pp. A1, A8. The Day. Retrieved 11 September 2014.
  3. ↑ Reese, Joel (30 September 1997). "Worshiping at the Whaling Wall His New Mural in Downtown Chicago Thrills His Fans, but Critics Say Wyland Is a Better Self-Promoter Than an Artist". Daily Herald (Arlington Heights). Retrieved 11 September 2014 via HighBeam Research (subscription required).
  4. ↑ Pfister, Darlene (5 September 1997). "Artist Wyland creates whale of a mural". Star-Tribune. Retrieved 11 September 2014 via HighBeam Research (subscription required).
  5. ↑ Skirble, Rosanne (6 June 2010). "Marine Artist Receives Stamp of Approval". Voice of America. Retrieved 11 September 2014.
  6. ↑ Rosenblatt, Susannah (25 June 2008). "Artist's whale request causes a flap". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 11 September 2014.
  7. ↑ Creech, Steve (June 2013). "Wyland: Artist and Conservationist". Arts and Activities. Retrieved 11 September 2014 via HighBeam Research (subscription required).
  8. ↑ Tobias, Lucy (25 October 2000). "Crowds Gather To Watch Artist At Work In Homosassa", pp. 1B and 6B. Ocala Star-Banner.
  9. ↑ ENS (27 June 2008). "Wyland to Paint 100th Whaling Wall Mural in Beijing". NBC New York. Retrieved 11 September 2014.
  10. ↑ City of Tucson (2014). "National Mayor's Challenge for Water Conservation". Retrieved 11 September 2014.
  11. ↑ Connelly, Laylan (January 25, 2015). "Wyland offering art lessons for kids". The Orange County Register. p. Sports 11.
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