Mama Mimi: The Jackson Hole Troll
Photo credit: Scott & JustinefromWyo, Flickr
Looking for something a little more unique to add to your trip to Jackson? Nestled among the trees in Rendezvous Park is a giant whimsical troll named Mama Mimi, who stands watch. Built entirely from recycled materials, she’s not just an art installation—she’s a statement about sustainability, creativity, and community. This is the story of a dedicated dumpster diver turned artist, a troll, and a worldwide treasure-hunting phenomenon.
Thomas Dambo is an internationally acclaimed “recycling artist” and activist creating larger-than-life public art installations using recycled and reclaimed materials. A self-described dumpster diver and “semi-good artist”, Dambo grew up crawling through bushes, hopping fences, and digging through trash. He was a collector and a scavenger, finding odds and ends to build with in his friend’s backyards. For the past nine years, Dambo has been traveling around the world making giant troll sculptures in off-the-beaten-path locations.
In 2019, Dambo visited Jackson for the first time. He visited Rendezvous Park, formerly a gravel pit, and began planning how to best construct Mama Mimi while also preserving the protected wetlands and wildlife habitats. And the rest, as they say, is history. The work of art was officially commissioned by Jackson Hole Public Art in 2021. Today, you can find Mama Mimi stretching her leg over a shallow pond. The 35-foot statue, made of recycled steel, wood, and driftwood, has a sly Mona Lisa-esque smile on her face. What is she thinking about? Recycling? How she’d kill for a hamburger? How she’s thrilled she can be part of a phenomenon that’s drawing people away from their screens and into nature? We may never know.
Mama Mimi is the 80th sculpture of over 130 trolls hidden throughout 17 countries, all made by Dambo. Each sculpture is created from recycled wood and incorporates aspects of the stories and cultures near each troll’s community. With each troll created, Dambo hopes to continue drawing people outside into the incredible nature that surrounds us. And to make it all more fun, each troll has a plaque where fans and troll-hunters can piece together a code which will lead them to the next troll. For those of us who can’t travel to 17 different countries looking for trolls, you can also get an overview on Trollmap. Of this project, the artist says “Trash is a treasure. By sending people on a treasure hunt to find art made of garbage, I hope to create a new appreciation for the things we throw away and chip away at the ugly single-use mentality that floods our world with trash.”
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This post is brought to you by Flat Creek Inn.
Breanne Kunz was raised in the Pacific Northwest but grew up spending summers in Idaho and frequently visiting Jackson Hole, Grand Teton National Park, and Yellowstone National Park. She is a wife and mom who likes to write and travel and wants to travel more. She recycles and is now a fan of recycled trolls.
