Candytopia impresses with innovative design

One of the walls in Candytopia's confetti room features a statue of a unicorn surrounded by flying pigs. Candytopia is located in Santa Monica and closes on July 4. (Courtesy of Candytopia).

By Naomi Tsuang

News Editor

Candytopia is a sweet treat, both for visitors’ imaginations and taste buds.

Candytopia is a pop-up art installation in the Santa Monica Place Mall featuring candy-themed rooms and sculptures. Patrons can admire artwork made out of candy while enjoying a free treat in each interactive exhibit.

Hollywood Candy Girls CEO and star of TCL’s show “Candy Queen,” Jackie Sorkin, created the art exhibit with designer Zac Hartog and retailer John Goodman. Candytopia organizers originally planned to open the exhibit at LA Hangar Studios in Los Angeles on Dec. 15 but postponed the opening due to permit issues with the City of Los Angeles.

Organizers of the event announced on Feb. 22 that Candytopia’s new location would run in Santa Monica for four months and open on March 3. The exhibit features a total of seven different rooms, with themes ranging from beach to under the sea.

Each room includes colorful candy art pieces with information regarding the number of calories and sugar in each one. Artwork includes a portrait of rockstar Prince made of 1,500 pieces of candy and a portrait of actor Gene Wilder’s Willy Wonka featuring 7,900 candies, including mini Smarties, peachy hearts, root beer licorice and jelly beans.

In addition to detailed and colorful art, Candytopia’s interactive elements include a sky painted backdrop with giant beach balls for visitors to play with and an optical illusion backdrop to make it seem that visitors are falling into a rainbow vortex. The elements immerse patrons in the world of Candytopia, allowing the experience to extend beyond opportunities for Instagram photos, distinguishing Candytopia from other similar pop-up museums.

Candytopia’s creative exhibits also offer humor. In the confetti room, a tutu-wearing pig farts confetti to cover patrons from head to toe. In the last room of the exhibit, visitors are able to immerse themselves in a giant, foam marshmallow pit as more marshmallows rain down from above. These individual elements combine to create an atmosphere of child-like joy and playfulness.

There is no shortage of candy at Candytopia, as each room includes a different collection of sweets for visitors to try, including pixie sticks, chocolate truffles, and airheads. This variety of treats pleases everyone’s sweet tooth and immerses patrons in the world of Candytopia.

Candytopia is a must-see art exhibit, both for candy lovers and all those who have dreamt of visiting Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory. The vibrant colors and design of the exhibits create an unforgettable experience for families and friends of all ages.

Tickets are $30 for adults and $23 for children ages 4-12. Anyone wishing to visit Candytopia must purchase tickets at candytopia.com (limit 12 per person) before the Santa Monica location closes on July 4.