In Williamsburg, New York, a new project is exploring what happens when chocolate and visual storytelling meet. The Chocolate Gallery transforms chocolate into an art-driven experience, where illustration, narrative and flavour come together as a single piece.
Founded by Shahar and Anastasia, the project invites artists from around the world to create bespoke illustrations that wrap each chocolate bar. The packaging becomes more than a container. It becomes a collectible artwork designed to be discovered slowly.
As the wrapper unfolds, the illustration reveals hidden details and symbolic references before leading to the final piece: the chocolate itself. The idea is simple but powerful. Taste and visual art are treated with equal importance.
The art direction and illustration for the project are led by Guillermo Flores Pacheco of ORBEH Studio, who developed a universe of characters and visual narratives that bring the brand to life. Many of these characters are inspired by members of the founders’ family, creating a world that feels personal while still open to interpretation.
The very first packaging design draws directly from Williamsburg itself. The illustration depicts the founders’ corner loft, surrounded by subtle references to moments in their lives together. Hidden throughout the artwork are symbolic elements that reference milestones, personal memories and even the names of their children. Each chocolate therefore carries its own story.
Special editions push the concept further. In the Dubai chocolate series, illustrated owl characters with oversized eyes appear as guardians of the piece. Beneath each owl sits a gold frame that reveals the chocolate as the final artwork, reinforcing the idea that the edible object is the culmination of the visual narrative.The project blurs the line between product design and collectible print culture.
ORBEH Studio, based in Guadalajara, Mexico, is an award-winning illustration and graphic design studio known for its research-driven approach to brand identity. For The Chocolate Gallery, this approach helped shape a layered visual system where storytelling, illustration and packaging design operate together.
The result is a chocolate experience that unfolds like a small gallery exhibition in your hands.
Art Direction: Guillermo Flores Pacheco
Creative Direction: Anastasia Komarov
Illustrations: Guillermo Flores Pacheco and Aurore Danielou
Photography: Alvaro Vazquez
Motion Graphics: Alex Romero
LINKS
Studio
