Wyland, California Artist

known for the Whaling Walls, Ocean Activism

Wyland, or Robert Wyland as his family members know him, is often called the Artist of the Sea. In 2008 he completed a goal of painting 100 large scale murals on public facilities throughout the globe, ending with Whaling Wall #100 Hands Across the Oceans at Chaoyang Park, Beijing, China. The 2,430 Foot Wide  x 10 Foot high mural ended a 27 year quest that spanned five continents, promoting appreciation and understanding for aquatic habitats.  The murals were painted in life-size dimensions and though some have become "extinct",  others have been touched up or re-energized with new paint.

"The health of our ocean and waterways are in jeopardy, not to mention the thousands of marine animals and plants that face extinction if we do nothing," says the artist who continues to paint & promote.

"We have reached a point of globalization in which everything we do affects someone, or something, else. Call it the age of interconnectedness. And nothing symbolizes our dependence upon one another more than the interconnected state of our planet's water." 

Wyland is known for his Whaling Walls and oceanic-themed art that includes sculptures, paintings, prints, collectibles and even a California license plate  An accomplished painter, sculptor, photographer, writer, and scuba diver, he also documents the ocean with videos.  His Wyland Foundation, supported by himself and benefactors, promotes a variety of ocean causes.

to see Wylan d's work in California, or maybe even meet him at special events, you can keep up with the status of his projects and appearances on wyland.com.