Thomas Dambo: One Man's Trash, Everyone's Treasure

Photo Source: Milwaukee Mag

Imagine hiking through a forest and suddenly coming face-to-face with a 20-foot-tall wooden giant with glowing eyes and a friendly smile. This isn't a scene from a fantasy movie. It's the work of Thomas Dambo, a Danish artist who has been quietly placing magical troll sculptures around the world, each one built entirely from materials that most people would throw away.

From Trash Cans to Fairy Tales

Thomas Dambo calls himself a "recycle art activist" and hopes to inspire everybody to have fun and think of "trash" as a valuable resource. His massive wooden trolls, made from scrap wood, old pallets, twigs and debris, now preside over mountains, forests and parks in 17 countries around the world.

But Dambo's journey to becoming the world's most famous troll builder wasn't always planned. Since childhood, Thomas was taught the value of recycling and sustainability by his parents. Instead of trash, his clever mind saw free building materials he could use to bring his imagination to life. A former rap musician and graffiti artist who pivoted to monster-size art in 2014, Dambo discovered that creating art from waste was both his passion and his mission.

The "Waste No More" Mission

In 2011, believing the world is drowning in waste, he quit his job to dedicate his life to showing the beauty of upcycled materials. His philosophy is simple: what if the things we throw away aren't really garbage at all, but building blocks for something amazing?

Each of Dambo's trolls tells this story in a powerful way. Malin's Fountain, an 18-foot sculpture in Austin, Texas, was designed from over 80% recycled materials. Thomas Dambo breathes new life into discarded resources, showcasing the boundless potential hidden within our world's trash cans.

The scale of his recycling efforts is impressive. He has been creating giant trolls, made from recycled/reclaimed materials for the past ten years, and to date, he has built over 120. That means tons of material that would have ended up in landfills has instead been transformed into art that brings joy to millions of visitors.

More Than Just Sculptures

What makes Dambo's work special isn't just the recycling aspect. It's how he uses folklore and storytelling to create deeper connections between people and nature. By using the stories and mythologies of his childhood, trolls became a natural vehicle to marry his large-scale artwork with his attention to the natural world.

Each troll comes with its own story, often written as a poem or riddle. For example, his troll "Lulu" in California has a backstory: "A tiny troll from far away, she swam the ocean vast. She found a cozy city and..." continues the tale. These stories aren't just cute additions; they're designed to make people think about environmental protection and our relationship with nature.

The trolls are strategically placed to encourage people to venture into natural spaces they might not otherwise visit. "Recycle art activist" Thomas Dambo makes these gentle giants to lure humans to nature, getting people away from screens and into forests, parks, and gardens where they can experience the natural world firsthand.

A Global Community Project

One of the most remarkable aspects of Dambo's work is how he involves local communities in creating his sculptures. He collaborates with local communities, making them co-creators of his art. When he arrives in a new location, he doesn't work alone. Instead, he teaches workshops, brings in volunteers, and uses materials sourced from the local area.

This community approach serves multiple purposes. It reduces transportation costs and environmental impact, gives local people ownership of the artwork, and spreads his message about recycling and sustainability to more people. By the time a troll is completed, dozens or even hundreds of people have learned about turning waste into art.

The Art of Dumpster Diving

Dambo's creative process begins with what he playfully calls dumpster diving, though it's much more sophisticated than it sounds. He looks for discarded wood, old pallets, broken furniture, and other materials that still have structural integrity. He said he'd built 250 birdhouses from discarded materials before moving on to his first large-scale troll.

The process of transforming trash into trolls involves careful planning and engineering. These aren't just piles of old wood stacked together. Each troll must be structurally sound enough to withstand weather, wind, and thousands of visitors. They need to be safe for people to climb on and photograph with, while also being built to last for years.

The facial expressions and poses of each troll are carefully designed to be welcoming rather than scary. Unlike the fearsome trolls of traditional fairy tales, Dambo's creations have gentle, curious expressions that invite interaction rather than fear.

Teaching Through Adventure

Dambo has found that the best way to teach people about environmental responsibility isn't through lectures, but through wonder and adventure. His trolls are often placed in locations that require a bit of hiking or exploring to reach. This treasure hunt element makes finding them feel like a reward and creates positive associations with spending time in nature.

Each sculpture embodies a fusion of art and conservation, encouraging a closer bond between humans, animals, and nature. When families hike together to find a troll, take pictures, and read the accompanying story, they're learning about recycling and environmental stewardship without it feeling like a classroom lesson.

The Ripple Effect

The impact of Dambo's work extends far beyond the sculptures themselves. Dambo spreads his message through speaking engagements, including a TEDx talk and upcycling workshops. His exhibitions, like TROLLS: Save the Humans, inspire visitors to explore themes such as recycling and reusing trash, the importance of plants and gardens, art, and more.

The Save the Humans title itself sends a powerful message about who really needs saving in our relationship with the environment. It's not the trolls or the forests that are in the most danger; it's humans who need to change their relationship with waste and nature.

A Model for the Future

Thomas Dambo's work represents a new way of thinking about art, waste, and environmental education. Instead of creating art that sits in galleries where only some people can see it, he creates experiences that bring people into nature while teaching important lessons about sustainability.

His trolls prove that environmental activism doesn't have to be preachy or depressing. Instead, it can be magical, adventurous, and fun. When a child climbs on one of Dambo's trolls and learns that it's made from materials that would have been thrown away, they're learning a lesson about possibility that they'll carry with them for life.

As his projects span 20 countries and five continents, using tons of recycled materials, Dambo continues to show that one person's trash really can become another person's treasure, and that treasure can inspire wonder, protect the environment, and bring communities together.

The next time you see something being thrown away, you might find yourself asking: "What could this become instead?" That's exactly the question Thomas Dambo hopes we'll all start asking, one giant wooden troll at a time.

Finding the Trolls

For those inspired to seek out these magical creatures, Dambo maintains a Trollmap on his website where visitors can find locations of trolls around the world. Each entry includes the story, location details, and often clues for finding them. It's become a global treasure hunt that combines art appreciation, environmental education, and outdoor adventure – proving that learning about sustainability can be the greatest adventure of all.

Sources

1. Filoli Gardens. "TROLLS: Save the Humans." https://filoli.org/trolls/

2. Trollmap. "By Thomas Dambo." https://trollmap.com/

3. Wikipedia. "Thomas Dambo." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Dambo

4. Northwest Trolls. "Way of the Bird King." https://www.nwtrolls.org/

5. Visit Solvang. "Thomas Dambo's Troll 'Lulu'." https://solvangusa.com/dambo-troll/

6. South Coast Botanic Garden Foundation. "Meet World Renowned Recycle Artist Thomas Dambo." September 19, 2023.

7. NPR. "Far From The Internet, Thomas Dambo's Benevolent Trolls Lure Humans To Nature." May 6, 2021.

8. Rooted Wanderings. "Ultimate Guide to Thomas Dambo Trolls in the US." January 31, 2025.

9. The Washington Post. "Thomas Dambo makes giant trolls from trash, hides them with clues." July 10, 2024.