Sculpted from scraps and steeped in Scandinavian folklore, Thomas Dambo’s latest creation bridges art, ecology, and myth — standing tall as a call for harmony at California’s historic Filoli Estate.
A Troll Born of Trash and Imagination
In Woodside, California, nestled within the storied Filoli Estate, a giant wooden troll now rises — cobbled together from discarded pallets and old wine barrels. The sculpture is the latest piece in Danish artist Thomas Dambo’s sustainable art movement, Trolls Save the Humans. It’s more than a marvel of creative recycling; it’s a sentinel of forgotten wisdom.
From Myth to Message
Dambo’s trolls span continents — over 170 in 21 U.S. states and more than 20 countries. His Trail of a Thousand Trolls transforms salvaged waste into folklore-inspired beacons that whisper ancient truths about balance, respect, and renewal. Each troll is a storyteller, urging viewers to reimagine their relationship with the Earth.
A Dialogue with Nature
At Filoli, this towering troll doesn’t just dominate the landscape — it engages in a silent conversation with it. Carved eyes gaze across the estate as if urging visitors to slow down, listen to the rustling trees, and rekindle lost connections. It stands not as a monument, but as a reminder: nature is not a backdrop to life, it is life.