Paul McCarthy's "Chocolate Factory" is set to open its doors in Los Angeles’s Chinatown, transforming the Performance Art Museum (PAM) into a working chocolate production line this holiday season. The installation, known for its blend of manufacturing, performance, and commentary, will operate from November 20 through December 26, 2026, offering Angelenos a chance to witness and taste a provocative art experience.
This special engagement serves as a benefit for the Performance Art Museum, which is slated to officially open its doors as a permanent home for performance art in January 2027. Paul McCarthy, described as an art legend and a board member for PAM, is bringing his evolving work to Los Angeles as an early preview. The industrial warehouse space at 109 W College St. will host the factory, giving visitors a direct look at art in the making.
Stepping inside, guests will find costumed workers casting approximately 400 chocolate sculptures daily. These sweet treats will accumulate within the space, creating what the museum describes as a "living, breathing art installation" that changes as production continues. The featured chocolate molds are McCarthy’s classic, satirical figures: "Santa with Tree Plug" and "Tree Plug." These pieces are designed to mix holiday cheer with modern abstraction, a healthy dose of humor, and a substantial coating of social commentary.
McCarthy’s "Chocolate Factory" has a history of exploring themes such as consumerism, physical labor, and commercial value. The installation combines aspects of manufacturing and retail with pop culture commentary, all while producing something pretty tasty. This unique approach turns the act of making and buying into part of the artistic statement.
For those interested in owning a piece of this temporary factory, the chocolate works are indeed for sale. PAM has partnered with local favorite andSons Chocolatiers to create 2,000 limited edition, gourmet, 62% dark chocolate sculptures. Each edible collectible will be priced at $200. All proceeds from these sales will directly fund PAM's grand opening and support its future programming.
The special edition chocolates will first be available for presale online from November 1 through November 19, 2026. After that, they can be purchased both online and directly at the factory in Chinatown from November 20 through December 26, 2026. Reservations are encouraged for those planning to visit the factory itself.
McCarthy's "Chocolate Factory" has previously been staged in New York back in 2007 and later within the historic Monnaie de Paris. Its arrival in Los Angeles offers a fresh iteration of a work that continues to blend the mundane with the avant-garde. It’s an opportunity for Southern Californians to engage with an internationally recognized artist’s work right in their backyard, all while supporting a new local institution.
