‘Dux,’ a troll sculpture in Dix Park, Raleigh, N.C.
Photo by Susan R. Miller
Thanks to St. Patrick’s Day, March is known for leprechauns, but throughout the United States and the world, trolls are also capturing people’s imaginations.
Across forests, gardens, coastlines and suburban parks, enormous wooden figures are emerging — whimsical giants built from scrap lumber, fallen branches and reclaimed materials.
These are the trolls of Danish recycle artist Thomas Dambo, a global art phenomenon that blends environmental storytelling with playful narratives.
Dambo’s creations are scattered around the world, forming what he calls the “Trail of a Thousand Trolls,” an ever‑growing fairytale map of public art installations. His creations appear in France, Germany, Chile, Australia, South Korea and beyond, with new installations opening every year as part of his expanding portfolio.
In the U.S., more than 40 trolls delight people from Dix Park in Raleigh, N.C., to the Danish-themed village of Solvang, Calif. Each sculpture is unique, many are interactive and they’re built with the help of local volunteers.
Dambo’s most ambitious efforts are still unfolding. He has launched “Trolls of America,” a dream project to place at least one troll in every U.S. state – a coast-to-coast trail of more than 50 sculptures designed to spark environmental awareness and outdoor exploration.