Earlier this week, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park announced an exciting addition for the 2027 season – Thomas Dambo’s TROLLS: A Field Study will see 12 giant troll statues make their way to Grand Rapids. Those who have visited Benny the Beard Fisher in the Upper Peninsula or have seen any of Dambo’s other trolls across the country will now have the chance to see this outdoor art installation come to life next May. Each of these trolls is handcrafted from recycled materials and reclaimed wood, and we can’t wait to see them on the grounds of the three-time winner as Best Sculpture Park in the U.S.A. (10best.com/USA Today).

The TROLLS: A Field Study exhibit features 12 trolls (Taks, Larke, Kirse, Hasse, Lilnut, Boge, Bignut, Poppi, Anja, Birch, Wilde and Valle) who have ventured into our world and are studying our behavior and habits. Currently on display at a wildlife park and a zoo near Tacoma, Washington, it has also been previously displayed in California and North Carolina.

Dambo is from Copenhagen, Denmark and has been making trolls for over a decade now. These giant wooden trolls have been displayed in Singapore, Denmark, Australia, China, Germany, Belgium, Chile, Puerto Rico, and in U.S. states like Maine, Texas, Florida, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Washington, Oregon, Colorado, Vermont, and more. Hallmarks of his work included using recycled wood to construct the trolls and often placing them in forests or public spaces.

In 2023, Dambo came to Michigan to construct Benny the Beard Fisher in Germfask. This installation is part of “The Way of the Bird King,” which saw him build 10 trolls across the country over a 100-day stretch. This project also has a book that accompanies it and provides more stories about the featured trolls.

Benny the Beard Fisher can be visited at Northland Outfitters in Germfask. In the campground here, Benny sits on the shore of the Manistique River, using his beard to try and catch fish. He is around 30 feet long and more than 10 feet tall. You can get great pictures with Benny or if you’re feeling more adventurous, rent some canoes or kayaks and see him from the water!

You can already grab tickets for this exciting installation at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. TROLLS: A Field Study runs from May 14 to October 31, 2027.