Here’s video of Wyland’s Laguna Beach mural brought to life in 3D: https://www.instagram.com/
The artist Wyland has completed over 100 “Whaling Walls,” which are large-scale murals of marine life located around the world. These murals are a global aquatic gallery intended to raise awareness for ocean conservation. The project, which began in 1981, officially reached its 100th mural in 2008, and Wyland has continued to create and restore them.
The second part of the installation debuts Nov 6.
Wyland Foundation to Illuminate Iconic Laguna Beach Mural in First-of-Its-Kind 3D Visual Experience at First Thursday Art Walk
Laguna Beach, CA – The Wyland Foundation will present a groundbreaking, free public experience at Laguna Beach’s First Thursday Art Walk, transforming Wyland’s landmark Gray Whale and Calf mural into a dynamic 3D illumination unlike anything the community has seen before.
Using an array state-of-the-art 12K laser projectors, the 140-foot-long mural will be brought to life with breathtaking clarity, color, and depth. Layered animation, narration, and an original soundtrack will turn the mural into a living seascape, with vivid, cinematic detail viewable right from the sidewalks along Pacific Coast Highway. The debut presentation offers audiences an immersive look at the California rocky reef habitats just offshore from Laguna Beach, where vibrant kelp forests, colorful fish, and marine mammals thrive.
“This is more than projection mapping — it’s storytelling through art, science, and technology,” said Wyland Foundation president Steve Creech. “We’re bringing the ocean’s beauty right into the heart of Laguna, showing why protecting our coastal resources matters to all of us.”
Part 1 of a Two-Part Illumination Series (Happened on Thursday, October 2nd.
The October event is the first in a two-part illumination series created exclusively for Art Walk. The second installment the following month will reveal additional imagery and storytelling. The Wyland mural illumination project is organized by the non-profit Wyland Foundation, with visual design by Adswork and Wyland Galleries, and lighting support from Larson Lighting & Audio of Laguna Hills. Together, the organizers hope to promote a shared vision: to protect Laguna’s natural environment while celebrating its art and community.
Event Details
• 3D Illumination – Part 2: Thursday, Nov. 6 (6:30–8:30 PM)
• Location: Wyland’s Gray Whale and Calf mural (509 PCH, Laguna Beach)
• Admission: Free and open to the public
About the Wyland Foundation
Founded by conservationist and artist Wyland, the Wyland Foundation is dedicated to promoting, protecting, and preserving the world’s ocean, waterways, and marine life. Through large-scale public art projects, hands-on science education, and community outreach, the Foundation inspires millions of people each year to take action for our blue planet. As part of its “Saving the Ocean Starts at Home” initiative, the Wyland Foundation connects art, science, and everyday choices to help people understand how local actions shape the future of our waterways and oceans.
The Foundation will host its annual fundraising gala on November 15 in San Clemente. To learn more, visit wylandfoundation.org.
