As a lifelong advocate for upcycling and public engagement, Danish artist Thomas Dambo’s art projects continually challenge the boundaries between creativity, storytelling, recycling, adventure, and activism.
Born in 1979 in Odense, Denmark, Dambo grew up in a collective household where resourcefulness and creativity thrived. Before pursuing a Master’s degree at the Kolding School of Design, Dambo dabbled in hip-hop, beatboxing, graffiti, and street art. After graduating, he began experimenting with large-scale installations made from reclaimed materials.
Dambo describes his mission simply as “Waste no more.” His art encourages people to see discarded materials as resources rather than trash. Together with his team, they have transformed items such as old wooden pallets, furniture, and other discarded wood into monumental works of art.
His breakthrough project titled ‘The Six Forgotten Giants’ was installed in 2016. It became an international sensation and helped establish his reputation for creating giant trolls. According to his biography, his Troll Hunt exhibition at the Morton Arboretum in Illinois drew more than 1.24 million visitors in its first year.
His trolls aren’t just sculptures; they are unique characters with stories. Some of the venues have troll field study booklets available with a map and troll information. Other sites have plaques that encourage people to reconnect with nature and think differently about consumption and waste.
The first time I admired one of his installations was at the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay, Maine. Located near Boothbay Harbor on the scenic Boothbay Peninsula, Dambo’s giant “Guardians of the Seeds” troll installation is displayed throughout more than 300 acres of forest and gardens. Similar to a scavenger hunt, visitors and troll fans have a sense of wonder and discovery finding each art piece.
Next, I visited Dambo’s ‘TROLLS: A Field Study,’ a whimsical self guided walking tour at the South Coast Botanic Gardens in Palos Verdes, CA. This garden near the sea has 12 unique large trolls crafted entirely from reclaimed wood. According to the venue’s website, ‘These gentle, globe-trotting giants provide an important mission to all who see them- to observe humankind’s delightful quirks and what makes you wonderfully, uniquely you?’
Their presence enhances 87 acres into a playful, storybook landscape as visitors wander beside these charismatic creatures. Signs offer directional clues to some are tucked under towering trees, while others are featured in open spaces across the grounds.
According to a recent Associated Press report, Thomas Dambo has created nearly 200 installations across about 19 countries. His projects span multiple continents, bringing his giant recycled sculptures to forests, cities, gardens, and public spaces internationally. Some of his pieces are permanent while others are touring exhibitions, so the exact number of venues currently displaying his art changes over time.
The best way to discover Dambo’s art is to go troll hunting. At some venues it feels like a scavenger hut as you discover trolls hidden in nature. Dambo’s interactive Trollmap helps visitors locate and explore his sculptures around the world.
In an interview Dambo said he designs each troll and writes a fairy tale about each one. “They’re real to me,” he says.
In the United States, his work or art can be found in California, Washington State, Kentucky, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Colorado, Rhode Island, Iowa, Alabama, and Florida.
Internationally, Dambo’s home country has many installations, including works in Hald, Sønder Felding, Møborg, Voldum, Svendborg, Vissenbjerg, Løgumkloster, Aarhus, and other locations. His newest indoor museum exhibition, The Garbage Man, is at ARKEN Museum of Contemporary Art in Ishøj through November 29, 2026. Other countries with Thomas Dambo installations include Australia, Belgium, Canada, Chile, France, Mexico, Puerto Rico, South Korea, and the United Kingdom.
