Adam Weitsman Commissions Thomas Dambo Troll for Historic Carl Sagan Property in Ithaca
ITHACA, N.Y. Sept. 24, 2026 – Businessman, recycling industry leader and art collector Adam Weitsman has commissioned internationally acclaimed Danish artist Thomas Dambo to create a monumental troll sculpture overlooking the gorge below the historic former Carl Sagan property at 900 Stewart Avenue in Ithaca.
The sculpture, which will be created using reclaimed materials, will be positioned for public viewing from the gorge bridge and will join Dambo’s growing collection of giant trolls located throughout the world.
The commission reflects two of Weitsman’s longstanding interests: art and recycling. Weitsman is the owner and CEO of Upstate Shredding – Weitsman Recycling, a third-generation recycling company with operations across New York and Pennsylvania. He is also a longtime art collector whose involvement in the arts began before his return to the family recycling business, including time spent working in the New York City art world and operating an American folk art gallery.
“Recycling has been my life, and art has always been one of my greatest passions, so Thomas’s work brings those two worlds together in a very natural way,” Weitsman said. “I’ve spent my career looking at materials that other people consider scrap and seeing what they can become. Thomas takes that same idea and expresses it through art, transforming reclaimed materials into something remarkable.”
Dambo is internationally known for creating large-scale troll sculptures from recycled and reclaimed materials, particularly wood. His work combines art, environmental themes, folklore and public exploration.
Dambo has created giant trolls across five continents, with his installations catalogued through his global Troll Map. His works draw an estimated 4.5 million troll-seeking visitors annually and have helped transform parks, forests and cultural sites into destinations for visitors from around the world. Dambo’s work has been featured by major international media outlets including BBC, National Geographic and NPR.
The Ithaca sculpture will become part of that international collection and will be designed to be visible to the public from the gorge bridge.
“There is something powerful about taking a material that has already served one purpose and giving it another life,” Weitsman said. “That happens every day in the recycling business, and Thomas has built an incredible body of work around that same idea. I could not think of a more fitting artist for this property.”
The sculpture will be located overlooking the gorge below the former Carl Sagan property, also known as the Sphinx Head house or “the Tomb.” Weitsman acquired the property in 2024 and is currently overseeing its restoration.
The distinctive Egyptian Revival structure was originally built in the 1920s as a meeting place for Cornell University’s Sphinx Head society and was later owned by renowned astronomer, author and science communicator Carl Sagan and author and producer Ann Druyan.
Weitsman said the Dambo commission is intended to complement the restoration of the historic property while adding a new public-facing artistic element to the site.
“This property has an extraordinary history, and I want to respect that history while also creating something meaningful for its next chapter,” Weitsman said. “Thomas’s work brings together art, recycling, community and imagination in a way that feels especially appropriate here.”
Additional details about the Ithaca troll, including its name, design, dimensions, installation timeline and unveiling, will be announced as the project progresses.
About Thomas Dambo
Thomas Dambo is a Danish recycling artist internationally recognized for his monumental sculptures made from reclaimed and recycled materials. He is best known for his giant wooden trolls, which combine storytelling, folklore, environmental themes and exploration. Dambo’s sculptures are located across five continents and attract millions of visitors annually. His global Troll Map allows visitors to locate and explore his installations around the world.
About Adam Weitsman
Adam Weitsman is an entrepreneur, recycling industry leader, art collector and philanthropist based in Upstate New York. He is the owner and CEO of Upstate Shredding – Weitsman Recycling, a third-generation family recycling business with operations across New York and Pennsylvania. Weitsman has been involved in the arts for decades, including collecting early American stoneware, working in New York City’s art industry and operating an American folk art gallery. His current interests include contemporary and historic art, architecture, recycling and projects supporting communities throughout Upstate New York.
