ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — As Asheville sizzles under summer sun, word dropped Thursday that a dozen trolls are packing their bags for a winter visit to the North Carolina Arboretum.
The arboretum and Explore Asheville said the garden space within Bent Creek Experimental Forest will host the U.S. premiere of Trolls: A Field Study, an outdoor art exhibition by renowned Danish artist Thomas Dambo. The exhibit opens Nov. 15 and will run through Feb. 17.
Created from reclaimed wood and materials, the 12 troll sculptures — each standing 7 to 9 feet tall — will be scattered throughout the arboretum’s gardens and trails. Six of the trolls will also be featured during the arboretum’s popular Winter Lights holiday event.
“This is the most exciting exhibition we’ve ever hosted,” arboretum Executive Director Drake Fowler said. “These trolls aren’t here to study trees or flowers — they’re here to study humans. They’re here to study our interesting behaviors. We invite everyone to come explore the gardens, find the trolls and experience the arboretum in a whole new way.”
The interactive exhibit marks the North American debut of Trolls: A Field Study, which has been produced in collaboration with Imagine and supported by the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority through its Tourism Development Fund. The project aligns with the arboretum’s sustainability mission, especially in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Helene.
Dambo, who is based in Copenhagen, is internationally recognized for his folklore-inspired sculptures that use recycled materials to promote environmental awareness. His trolls have appeared across Europe, Asia and the Americas, often accompanied by original stories that encourage visitors to reconnect with nature.
“This is art with heart and purpose,” Vic Isley, president and CEO of Explore Asheville and the Buncombe County TDA, said. “We talk every day about the good fortune that we have to shine a spotlight on this creative community for the economic benefit and health of our community and region. And this is just one example of that.”
Fowler said guests will be able to use maps to track down the trolls and that the exhibit is designed to be a full-body, immersive experience for all ages.
To see all 12 trolls, visitors are encouraged to stay overnight in Asheville, as some sculptures will only be accessible along the arboretum’s trail system.
“We really hope that the regional residents here, families in our region and visitors from near and far are delighted by the whimsy and storytelling of each of these trolls,” Isley said. “And if these trolls are coming to explore humankind, I think they’re going to discover the grit, gumption and determination of our community and the humans that have made such an impact in progress on the ground here nine months into our recovery efforts.”
For more details, visit ncarboretum.org.