Internationally renowned marine life artist Wyland is one of the most celebrated and recognized artists of our time. An innovative painter, sculpture, writer, photographer, philanthropist, and filmmaker, he captured the imagination of people everywhere by completing over one hundred monumental marine life murals around the world from 1981-2008. The project, known as the Whaling Walls, remains one of the largest public arts projects in history and continues to be seen by an estimated one billion people each year.

An avid SCUBA diver and world traveler, the Detroit-born artist has been hailed a "Marine Michaelangelo" by USA Today and recognized for his art and conservation efforts by the United Nations and on the floor of Congress. 

 "My art has always been about art and conservation," Wyland says. "I was inspired in the early 70s by Green Peace, the first Earth Day, and from watching my hero Jacques Cousteau's Undersea World television series. I was simply an artist in the right place at the right time in history, and I felt strongly that art could play an important role in bringing attention to environmental issues."

Wyland's early inspiration grew upon seeing the ocean for the first time during a family visit to Laguna Beach, Calif., in 1971, when he was fourteen years old. The sight of a mother and baby gray whale migrating near the shore eventually inspired him to paint those same two whales on a life-size scale on an adjacent building in 1981. After the completion of the mural, he committed himself to creating one hundred ocean murals around the world as a gift to communities. He painted his 100th Whaling Wall mural in Beijing for the Cultural Olympics as the official artist for the US Olympic team. 
Today the artist is one of the most collected and appreciated artists in the world with artwork in museums, corporate collections, private homes and more than 100 countries.

Meet Wyland, discover his inspiring work while sampling 'sips and sweets' at Gupton Gallery!

Saturday, December 19 from 5 to 9 pm