In the spring of 2025, Thomas Dambo, a Danish recycling artist, will install a giant troll made of recyclable material in Wauwatosa’s new park on 116th Street and Gilbert Avenue.
Dambo has created troll sculptures in 20 countries across five continents, as well as in 19 states in the U.S, with this troll being his first in Wisconsin.
“We basically had to sell him on Wauwatosa, and the idea of bringing his sculpture here,” says Beth Gleesing, tourism specialist for the City of Wauwatosa. “We walked the plan for the new park, showed him the spaces and, since he is a recycle artist, we went through some of the resources and existing materials that we have here in Wauwatosa.”
Dambo’s rustic style fit the vision for the new park.
“The new park is going to be a little more natural – there’s going to be a lot more wooded area than you might typically see in an urban park,” Gleesing says.
Gleesing shared that the concept for this troll is one that Dambo has had in his mind for several years, but the final design will remain a surprise until the unveiling next spring. “When he came to Wauwatosa and saw the space and the resources we had available, he was like, ‘I have an idea and I know what I want to do here.’”
According to Wauwatosa’s press release, the sculpture’s $365,000 cost is entirely funded through hotel/motel taxes.
Gleesing added that the sculpture is part of the city’s ongoing effort to grow as an arts tourism destination, with other projects like its Mural District and Art 64 event.
“We believe this will draw people from outside Wauwatosa, and our city will have a definite economic impact from those visitors,” Gleesing says. “This is something that we really believe both residents and visitors are going to love.”
