In true Austin fashion, Malin, the quirky 18-foot female troll at Pease Park, brought a little weirdness, wonder, and heart to our city. Created by Danish artist Thomas Dambo and built in 2024 with the help of 150 Austin volunteers using recycled wood, she quickly became a beloved symbol of community.
Malin was a female troll holding a bowl. The 18-foot-tall structure was built to remind community members "that we should share water and resources with the animals that live here with us," according to the Pease Park Conservancy.
This past week, Malin burned to the ground in an early morning fire that is still under investigation. The loss feels deeply personal to so many Austinites because she wasn’t just an art installation, she was built with love, teamwork, and imagination. Flowers and tributes now surround the site where she once stood proudly in Pease Park.
One community member said it perfectly: “The world’s a dark place right now, and now the troll’s gone.”
Still, even in the sadness, there’s hope. Malin reminded us how important it is to share, connect, and protect the magic that makes Austin special. Many are already hoping she rises again someday, because a city as weird and funky as Austin deserves its troll.
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