A fully operational, live-action chocolate factory is taking over an industrial warehouse space in Chinatown this holiday season, as Time Out Los Angeles reported. The installation, created by art legend and board member Paul McCarthy, serves as a special benefit engagement for the Performance Art Museum ahead of its official debut as a permanent home for performance art.
The installation, titled Chocolate Factory, will run from November 20 through December 26, 2026, at 109 W College St. in Los Angeles. The temporary event offers Angelenos an early look at the venue before the Performance Art Museum officially opens its doors to the public in January 2027.
Visitors stepping into the Chinatown warehouse will witness costumed workers casting approximately 400 chocolate sculptures each day. As the pieces are manufactured on site, the sweet treats will stack up directly inside the warehouse space, forming a living art installation that continually expands over the course of the run.
The manufactured pieces feature McCarthy’s classic satirical figures, including "Santa with Tree Plug" and "Tree Plug." The molds blend holiday themes, modern abstract shapes, humor, and social commentary into edible art objects. The Chocolate Factory project originally debuted in New York in 2007 and was later staged inside the historic Monnaie de Paris. Through its combination of manufacturing, live performance, retail, and pop culture critique, the evolving work explores concepts surrounding modern consumerism, physical labor, and commercial value.
Beyond serving as visual and performance elements within the space, the chocolate works are also being sold to support the new institution. The museum has partnered with local business andSons Chocolatiers to produce a run of 2,000 limited-edition sculptures made from 62% dark chocolate.
These gourmet collectibles are priced at $200 each. All proceeds from the sales will directly fund the Performance Art Museum’s upcoming grand opening and its future artistic programming. Presales for the edible sculptures begin online starting November 1 and run through November 19. Following the presale window, the chocolates will be available for purchase both online and in person at the Chinatown factory through December 26.
The temporary engagement will be open daily during its run at the College Street location. While admission details are set for the site, organizers encourage visitors to make reservations in advance through the institution's official website at pamuseum.org.
