North Carolina to House Largest U.S. Installation of Thomas Dambo’s Trolls
Raleigh, High Point, and Charlotte will now be home to seven members of Dambo’s famed “Troll Family”
(NORTH CAROLINA) – August 28, 2025 – This fall, Danish Recycle Artist Thomas Dambo brings his largest North American installation yet to North Carolina. Seven troll sculptures, each handcrafted from natural and reclaimed materials, will debut across three cities: five in Raleigh’s Dix Park, one in High Point, and one in Charlotte. Their exact locations will remain secret until unveiled, encouraging discovery and exploration.
“The joy is in the discovery,” says Thomas Dambo. “The trolls are shy creatures. They like to be found, not announced.”
All seven sculptures will appear on Thomas Dambo’s global Trollmap, joining more than 150 others across five continents. His large-scale installations have transformed public spaces, forests, and greenways into destinations of whimsy and environmental reflection.
Whether you stumble upon a troll during a hike or help shape one with your own hands, Dambo promises an experience that’s equal parts mystery, memory, and magic.
Reimagining Waste as Wonder
Each sculpture is built from recycled wood, salvaged pallets, fallen branches, and other cast-offs—materials most would discard. But for Thomas Dambo, waste is the beginning, not the end.
“My mission is to show the world that trash can be turned into something beautiful,” says Thomas Dambo. “That we can create joy and connection without consuming more.”
His work challenges visitors to reconsider their relationship with the natural world. What if sustainability weren’t just about limiting harm, but about expanding imagination? What if we could see value in what’s been overlooked?
Each host site shares Thomas Dambo’s belief that creativity, community, and care for the planet can coexist, and even thrive, in public spaces. By welcoming these trolls, Raleigh, High Point, and Charlotte are not just hosting sculptures but embracing a larger call to imagine new possibilities for the land we live on, the materials we use, and the stories we tell about both.
A Statewide Moment for Public Art
With more than 150 trolls installed across Europe, Asia, Australia, and the Americas, Thomas Dambo’s installations now attract an estimated 4.5 million visitors annually. His work has garnered coverage from notable media outlets, including the BBC, National Geographic, NPR, and Lonely Planet, and has helped elevate parks and cultural spaces into international destinations.
The upcoming installations promise not only to captivate the imagination but also to stimulate tourism and civic pride.
In Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, the trolls drew approximately 500 to 1,000 visitors per day, leading to significant increases in foot traffic and sales for local businesses. In Victor, Colorado, the arrival of ‘Rita the Rock Planter’ effectively doubled walk-up tourism according to local business owners. Similar impacts are expected across North Carolina’s host cities, where local partners are preparing to welcome an influx of curious visitors who follow the Troll Map and seek out Thomas Dambo’s hidden giants.
In addition to the permanent sculptures debuting across North Carolina’s Piedmont region, the state will also host a temporary traveling exhibition of Dambo’s work at the North Carolina Arboretum in Asheville, beginning November 15, 2025. The exhibit, Trolls: A Field Study by Thomas Dambo, features twelve interactive troll sculptures and will run through February 17, 2026.
Though the Asheville and Piedmont installations are unrelated, together they create a unique opportunity to explore Thomas Dambo’s work across the state. This moment arrives as western North Carolina works to recover tourism revenue following Hurricane Helene, making it a timely opportunity to support arts and travel statewide.
“We love the idea of Thomas Dambo fans following the storyline through our Piedmont cities and continuing to Asheville for the Field Study trolls’ sojourn at the North Carolina Arboretum,” said Wit Tuttell, executive director of Visit NC. “It's an irresistible way to showcase Western North Carolina’s readiness to welcome travelers and recognize the region’s resilience after the challenging months post-Hurricane Helene. Thomas Dambo’s trolls will bring a message of joy that will resonate across the mountains and throughout the state.”
A Community-Powered Project
Volunteers will play a key role in the creation of the trolls at all three sites. Community participation is a foundational part of Thomas Dambo’s process, and each host site will handle its volunteer efforts in a way that fits the local context.
“This isn’t just about public art,” says Thomas Dambo. “It’s about inviting people to step into the story, to leave behind the digital world for a few hours and make something real with twigs, twine, and teamwork.”
Each site will activate its installations in its own way. Local businesses are encouraged to lean into the fun by creating troll-themed menus, decorations, displays, or special offerings that welcome new visitors and extend the experience across the host cities.
Troll Host Quotes
“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity. It brings worldwide attention to Raleigh while creating a deeply local experience at Dix Park. The Conservancy is proud to support the City in transforming the Park through public art that invites connection, curiosity, and care for the community.”
Ruffin Hall, President and CEO, Dix Park Conservancy
“We’re thrilled to welcome a Thomas Dambo troll into our landscape, a reminder that with imagination and collaboration, the opportunities are endless.”
Melody Burnett, President, Visit High Point
“Charlotte seeks to balance growth with green space, and this troll is a playful reminder that wonder still hides in plain sight. Ours may be shy, but he’s destined to become one of the city’s most talked-about residents. We believe art is a cornerstone of every great community, and we look forward to sharing the troll with Charlotteans and visitors alike later this year.”
A Charlotte spokesperson for the shyest of the coming trolls.
ABOUT THOMAS DAMBO
Thomas Dambo is an internationally acclaimed artist and environmental storyteller. Based on a farm in the Danish countryside, Thomas began his creative life building toys, costumes, and treehouses out of recycled materials—skills taught by his parents. He holds a degree in Interactive Design from Kolding Design School and is now one of the world’s leading voices in the upcycling movement. His stated mission is simple but profound: “Waste No More.” Through large-scale, whimsical trolls made entirely from repurposed materials, he shows the world that what’s discarded can still hold beauty, meaning, and magic.
Currently, there are more than 100 Dambo trolls around the globe—including in Denmark, China, France, South Korea, Australia, Chile, Ireland, and now, North Carolina.
ABOUT DIX PARK CONSERVANCY
The City of Raleigh owns and operates Dorothea Dix Park. Dix Park Conservancy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that exists to support the City in its efforts, serve as its philanthropic and community engagement partner, and ensure the creation and long-term success of Dix Park as a place for everyone – a transformative public space for community, health, and celebration that will enrich the quality of life in North Carolina.
ABOUT VISIT HIGH POINT
Visit High Point is the official destination management and marketing organization that positions High Point as a vibrant destination that visitors will enjoy, and locals will want to promote. Our vision is to leverage High Point’s reputation as the Home Furnishings Capital of the WorldTM and the home of a world-class University to further the evolution of High Point as a unique destination. While the focus is to increase economic impact by providing first-class service to our visitors and meeting planners, Visit High Point also works to develop our city as a year-round destination that is competitive in the marketplace, generating more brand ambassadors, and fans. We want each visitor to make yourself at home in High Point, NC. Established by state legislation in 1984, Visit High Point, a non-profit 501 c 6 organization, is funded by a self-imposed three percent room occupancy tax on local accommodations. No taxpayer funds – city, county, or state – are used to fund Visit High Point. The Visitor Center is located at 515 West English Road, Suite 101-A, High Point, N.C. 27262. For more information, visit www.visithighpoint.com.