Whimsy and Wonder: Storybook Trolls and Reclaimed Wood Art Transform The North Carolina Arboretum

The North Carolina Arboretum welcomed Trolls: A Field Study to its grounds on November 15, bringing twelve towering wooden “visitors” to the gardens and trails. These sculptures arrive with their own story—wandering the landscape and “learning” about humankind as visitors, in turn, discover them.

Created by Danish artist Thomas Dambo, the figures are affectionately called “Baby Trolls,” though at seven to nine feet tall, they are anything but subtle. Dambo was born in Odense, Denmark, and grew up in a home that encouraged creativity and resourcefulness. Over time, he explored hip-hop, street art, and interactive design before turning his focus to large-scale public sculpture. Today, he builds his whimsical installations entirely from recycled materials, including fallen branches, wooden pallets, and twigs.

A total of 12 Trolls are stationed throughout the Arboretum—six in the gardens and six along the trails. Guests can explore the full group during daytime visits, and experience six of the sculptures illuminated during Winter Lights in the evenings.

“The experience of searching and finding these whimsical creatures in our gardens and on the trails provides a great excuse to get outside and into nature, and we hope to continue seeing the trolls inspire this curiosity and adventure in our community all the way through February,” said Brian Postelle, Communications and Marketing Manager for The North Carolina Arboretum. “The appearance of six of these trolls at Winter Lights has added a new level of wonder to our annual light show and made the evening even more magical.”

ArtsAVL is a financial sponsor of Trolls: A Field Study, supporting the exhibition’s presentation in Asheville and helping connect visitors with the region’s vibrant creative community. As part of this support, ArtsAVL is working in partnership with the Arboretum and regional arts partners to encourage deeper engagement with local artists and creative businesses during the exhibition period.

“Large-scale public art experiences like this invite people to explore their surroundings in new ways,” said Katie Cornell, Executive Director of ArtsAVL. “We’re proud to support this exhibition and to help shine a light on the local artists and creative businesses that make our region such a vibrant place.”

As part of this work to connect visitors with local creatives, ArtsAVL is partnering with The Big Crafty to present Little Crafty in February—a curated event that will highlight local makers, encourage hands-on creativity, and create meaningful opportunities for artists and small creative businesses to reach new audiences.

Dambo’s Trolls are not the only wooden wonders on view this winter. Echoes of the Forest, a local project launched in the wake of Hurricane Helene, is also on display at the Arboretum. The initiative transforms trees downed by the storm into sculptural, functional works of art, turning symbols of loss into objects of healing.

In September, Echoes of the Forest installed a lively box turtle sculpture by “Mountain Mike” Ayers in the Playing Woods. October brought Chester Shuey’s live-edge bench, blending craftsmanship with organic form. In January, visitors will see a new sculptural bench by Mark Oliver, co-owner of Foundation Woodworks and owner of MJO Studios.

Echoes of the Forest is also part of the Winter Lights experience, with installations in the STREAM and Heritage Gardens. These “mini-Echoes,” crafted by Mike Ayers of Mountain Mike’s Whetstone Woodworks, include a carved riverbed scene featuring jumping trout, a hellbender, crawfish, and bullfrog, alongside a forest floor installation with towering mushroom stacks.

“The North Carolina Arboretum’s vibrant and natural setting is the perfect backdrop for these Echo installations,” said Liisa Andreassen, founder of Echoes of the Forest. “Each piece represents a harmonious blend of artistry and environmental stewardship, inspiring our community to reflect on the resilience of nature, the value of craftsmanship and the joy of shared experiences outdoors.”

This winter celebrates both global and local expressions of creativity—through Dambo’s playful creatures that celebrate the intersection of art, nature, storytelling, and recycling, and through the deeply rooted mission of Echoes of the Forest.

Trolls: A Field Study is on display through February 17, 2026, and the Echoes of the Forest installations are now part of the Arboretum’s permanent collection.

For more arts events in Asheville, including festivals, performances, workshops, and exhibitions, browse ArtsAVL’s events page. Stay connected and immerse yourself in the vibrant creative community this fall.