Join Us in Bringing a World-Renowned Thomas Dambo Troll to the California Nature Art Museum!
The California Nature Art Museum will host Thomas Dambo to build his first permanent troll in California at the beginning of 2025! Thomas Dambo is an internationally renowned Danish artist and recycling activist who is celebrated for his imaginative and colossal sculptures made from recycled materials. Specializing in creating enchanting wooden trolls, Thomas Dambo breathes new life into discarded resources, showcasing the boundless potential hidden within our world’s trash cans.
Thanks to several generous supporters, we’ve already raised an impressive $116,250. But we still need $185,000 more to make our troll a reality. Your contribution will directly support:
A Labor of Love: Help cover the expenses for Thomas Dambo and his crew to come to Solvang in January 2025. Our troll will be made with locally sourced and donated recycled materials such as wooden pallets, old wooden floorboards, and fallen trees.
Community Engagement: Having a Thomas Dambo troll comes with volunteer opportunities to help build it. The local people can participate in helping construct the giant on-site and bring everyone together one board at a time, and through public workshops and events!
Sharing Culture: Having a Thomas Dambo Troll will connect our museum to the Danish culture right here in Solvang, the Danish Capital of America. It will also put Solvang and the Santa Ynez Valley on the Trollmap for the thousands of global troll hunters that adventure out to find Thomas Dambo’s trolls.
By donating today, you’ll become part of this enchanting project, leaving a legacy of joy and recycled art. Every dollar brings us one step closer to welcoming Thomas Dambo and his crew to Solvang.
Troll sponsors will be acknowledged on our donor board, website, press releases, social media and more. Whether you donate $50, $250, or more, your generosity will make a lasting impact. Together, we can turn our trash into a local treasure.
Media Professionals: please find the latest press release linked here: PRESS RELEASE - OCT ‘24 PDF
Learn more about Thomas Dambo
Thomasdambo.com
Instagram @thomasdambo
Facebook.com/thomasdambos
youtube.com/thomasdambo
Donate now and be part of the story!
In-Kind Donations
Would you like to make an in-kind donation to support the new Thomas Dambo troll installation? Contact Executive Director Stacey Otte-Demangate at stacey@calnatureartmuseum.org or call (805) 686-8216 to arrange drop-off of your items.
All contributions help support the construction of this exciting, mission-oriented, and meaningful exhibition!
Sponsors List
$75,000 +
Schiele Family Foundation
$50,000+
$25,000+
Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians
$10,000+
Visit the Santa Ynez Valley
Pete and Becky Adams
$5,000+
Allan Hancock College
$1,000+
Margaret Weiss and Sterling Collett
Belinda and Robert Hart
Marion Lennberg
Jane and George Roach
$250+
Stacey and Eric Demangate
Candy Waldron
Gay and Mark Infanti
Anne Shaw
Kelli Anderson
About the Artist
Thomas Dambo is a Danish artist and musician who envisions and builds epic recycled creations! With a master’s degree in design from Kolding Design School, he’s turned a childhood passion for building with wood into a full-blown mission to turn trash into treasure.
Originally from Odense, Denmark but now based in Copenhagen, Thomas has been scouring for discarded wood since he was just 5 years old. In 2014, he launched his now world-renown trolls project, and today he’s known as the world’s top recycled artist!Dambo has unique troll installations in 16 countries, including 52 trolls here in the States. His work is blend of whimsical creativity and activism, encouraging everyone to explore nature and see the magic in what others might throw away. Each sculpture has its own unique story and invites you on an adventure, viewing the world with a delightfully quirky perspective.
Dambo’s often mischievous trolls help bring people together while spreading the word about the importance of recycling and conservation. Now Solvang, the Danish Capital of America, will soon have its very own troll, who will live at the California Nature Art Museum, greeting visitors to Solvang every day. Join our campaign today to help Dambo and his team build a troll here at the museum in January 2025!