Artist Interviews 2025

Thomas Dambo - TROLLS  
By Julia Siedenburg



Thomas Dambo (b. 1979, Odense, Denmark) is a globally recognized recycling artist who creates large-scale works from discarded materials. Since 2014, he has built art installations in over 20 countries across five continents, including the USA, China, Brazil, Australia, and Germany.



Best known for his giant Trolls made from recycled wood—over 150 of which now inhabit forests, deserts, and coastlines around the world—Dambo has also crafted thousands of birdhouses and major projects like the Happy Wall and Future Forest in Mexico City. His commitment to sustainability began in childhood, when his parents encouraged him to build toys and treehouses from reused materials. After earning a degree in Interactive Design in 2010, Dambo left a career in television to pursue art full-time. Today, he works from his countryside studio in Denmark, leading workshops and talks on creative reuse.



“My mission is Waste No More,” he says. “Our planet is drowning in trash, yet we are running out of resources. I want to show that beauty can come from what we throw away.” Through community collaboration, he transforms waste into art—turning environmental awareness into adventure and wonder.



Among Thomas Dambo’s most celebrated creations are his monumental wooden Trolls—towering sculptures crafted entirely from recycled materials and often hidden within forests, hillsides, and parks. Each troll stands as a large-scale outdoor work, sometimes more than twenty feet tall, constructed from reclaimed wood such as old pallets, scrap lumber, and fallen branches. Their presence transforms natural landscapes into sites of wonder, encouraging visitors to explore and discover art in unexpected places.



“In nature, there is no landfill. Nature is circular — everything has a meaning, and everything is recycled.”



Dambo’s trolls are the product of immense collaboration and community spirit. He sources his materials locally, collecting discarded wood and other remnants that would otherwise go to waste. For example, in his Belgian forest project The 7 Trolls and the Magical Tower, old shelving, pallets, and branches were repurposed into enormous figures—some nearly sixty feet tall. Over 200 volunteers helped collect materials, while a crew of 15 builders spent 25 weeks bringing the sculptures to life. Each troll carries a unique personality and story. Some cradle swings or appear to rest against trees, while others seem to rise from the earth itself. These playful details make finding them feel like embarking on a treasure hunt through nature. As Dambo describes in one of his fairy-tale narratives, “The trolls started walking toward new lands… they found a beautiful forest… But from the mountains they whistled a song so the people could find their new home.”

“I place my trolls in hidden, off-the-beaten-path locations to create a sense of discovery and adventure. I want them to feel like they belong — as if they’ve stepped out of an old legend and made a home in that very spot.”



His creations can be found across the globe—from Denmark to the United States, South Korea, Portugal, Belgium, and Australia—each one telling a story of environmental awareness and imaginative reuse. Dambo often says, “I want people to know that trash has value.” His sculptures not only celebrate the beauty of discarded materials but also remind us of the urgent need to rethink our relationship with waste and reconnect with the natural world.

Notable series include The Six Forgotten Giants (2016) around Copenhagen, Troll Hunt (2018) at the Morton Arboretum in Illinois, and Isak Heartstone (2018) in Breckenridge, Colorado. Behind their whimsical appearance lies a profound message: our planet’s resources are precious, and creativity can help protect them. By transforming trash into art, Thomas Dambo turns environmental responsibility into a joyful, shared experience—one where imagination, community, and nature come together in harmony.



“All of my art is about giving people a positive experience with recycling.” The Traveling Trolls



One of Dambo’s most famous trolls, Isak Heartstone, began as a local secret in the woods of Breckenridge, Colorado. Sitting peacefully under the trees, with pine-branch hair and a gentle expression, Isak quickly drew thousands of visitors. When nearby residents worried about crowding, Dambo personally helped relocate Isak to a new site—turning the move into part of the story. The troll’s “journey” became a reminder that art, like nature, can adapt and endure.



The Mischievous Ones Some trolls bring laughter as well as awe. In Portland, Oregon, Ole Bolle is shown peering through a tiny red house as if searching for cookies, while in Victor, Colorado, Rita the Rock Planter kneels to dig in the soil—a humorous nod to the town’s mining past. Across Washington state, a family of trolls such as Jakob Two Trees and Oscar the Bird King invite families to wander forest trails in search of their giant wooden friends.





The Secret of the Moon Mother For his 100th troll, Dambo created a global treasure hunt. Fans were challenged to collect QR codes from plaques placed near 99 existing trolls across the world. When solved, the clues led them to Moon Mother (Måne Mor), hidden deep in a Danish nature park. The discovery became a worldwide moment of joy—a testament to how Dambo turns myth, adventure, and environmental art into one magical experience.

“We can make big and beautiful things out of our trash. I’m trying to show people trash is not dangerous. It’s not disgusting. It’s not worthless. Trash is beautiful.” — Thomas Dambo



Through humor, heart, and hands-on craftsmanship, Thomas Dambo has turned discarded wood into a global movement — one that blends myth, art, and environmental consciousness. His trolls remind us that the things we throw away may still hold the power to tell stories, spark imagination, and bring people together.

“My trolls are not meant to be static monuments — they live, they travel, they decay. Just like us, they’re part of the cycle.”



Fun Facts
• Dambo has built more than 170 trolls in over 20 countries and 20 U.S. states.
• The head of one Minnesota troll measured eight feet across; his foot stretched nine feet long.
• In Washington, his troll Jakob Two Trees is strung with birdhouses made by local craftspeople, blending sculpture and habitat.
• Each troll is assembled with screws instead of nails, so the works can be safely disassembled or naturally return to the earth.
• Dambo’s “treasure-hunt” installations are designed to lure people off their screens and back into nature