Unlike unrealized architectural projects, which are frequently exhibited and circulated, unrealized artworks tend to remain unnoticed or little known. But perhaps there is another form of artistic agency in the partial expression, the incomplete idea, the projection of a mere intention? Agency of Unrealized Projects (AUP) seeks to document and display these works. Whether censored, forgotten, postponed, impossible, or rejected, unrealized projects form a unique testament to the speculative power of non-action.

AUP follows the publication entitled “Unbuilt Roads: 107 Unrealized Projects,” collated by Hans Ulrich Obrist and Guy Tortosa after several years of international research conducted in the late 1990s. Twenty years later, the Agency of Unrealized Projects was formed in collaboration with Julieta Aranda and Anton Vidokle, and an open call for unrealized projects was issued for its first public exhibition at ArtBasel in 2011. The open call will continue until all unrealized art projects are compiled.

Memorial - Ilya Kabakov

Aguapracasa - Gabriel Orozco

Dog Jaw Monument - A Futurist Tele-introject - Leon Golub

Grand Concours International D'Architecture  - Sol Lewitt

Unbetitelt, Gänse-Projekt + Noch unbetitelt , " Durch den Mund sehen " + Kartoffeln  - Carsten Holler

Placid Earth: A Project for the Meeting of Millennia - Cai Guo Quiang

Time Magazine Cover - Robert Rauschenberg

Catwalk - Sylive Fleury

No title, as the project only reached proposal stage - Rikrit Tiravanija

Passage - Richard Wentworth

Agency of Unrealised Projects
Logo by Liam Gillick
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Date
Title
Source
Description
Tags
W10927
20.06.2015
If all the waves can be saved - Yifei He
WWW
One room, one chair with endless waves. I want to put waves into one space, it will end at the middle of the space, put one chair towards the waves . People can not step twice into the same river, and people also can not meet the very same two waves. ...
One room, one chair with endless waves. I want to put waves into one space, it will end at the middle of the space, put one chair towards the waves . People can not step twice into the same river, and people also can not meet the very same two waves. ...
W3684
16.05.2011
Terje Nicolaisen
WWW
Sketches has indeed been looked upon as valuable, through various historians and art lovers. Even the meta-character of the proposals has been valued, but not to fulfilment. Leonardo da Vinci's draw- ings for a helicopter in the renaissance was seen at th ...
Sketches has indeed been looked upon as valuable, through various historians and art lovers. Even the meta-character of the proposals has been valued, but not to fulfilment. Leonardo da Vinci's draw- ings for a helicopter in the renaissance was seen at th ...
W5244
09.10.2012
Legal Notices - Aniko Doman
WWW
Graphic design -- corporate communication Project title: Legal Notices Graphic designer: Aniko Doman Client/employer: Clark County School District, Nevada, US (a public K-12 educational institution, serving over 300,000 students) ...
Graphic design -- corporate communication Project title: Legal Notices Graphic designer: Aniko Doman Client/employer: Clark County School District, Nevada, US (a public K-12 educational institution, serving over 300,000 students) ...
W4907
13.08.2012
Text - Cristina Zabalaga
WWW
A 16:43 min fictional experimental film exploring the limits of language. Why can‘t we live without words? The continuity of language and discourse constitutes a bridge over the abyss of loss and despair. Text THE WASTE LAND, T.S. Eliot II. A ...
A 16:43 min fictional experimental film exploring the limits of language. Why can‘t we live without words? The continuity of language and discourse constitutes a bridge over the abyss of loss and despair. Text THE WASTE LAND, T.S. Eliot II. A ...
W3969
21.05.2011
L’Ombre en feu, 1996 Work in progress - Patricia Jacomella
WWW
Excerpt from the advertising campaign Buy new Value! Dear Art Lover Have you run out of space for more works of art? If so, why not buy an intangible work of art and participate in a multicultural STATEMENT Patrici ...
Excerpt from the advertising campaign Buy new Value! Dear Art Lover Have you run out of space for more works of art? If so, why not buy an intangible work of art and participate in a multicultural STATEMENT Patrici ...
W4279
24.05.2011
"Mr. Quixote"  - AGGTELEK
WWW
Monument of 50 meters high rehearsing a new "Don Quixote" titled "Mr. Quixote". "Mr. Quixote" tells the story of the adventures of Mr. Quixote through the 21st century through the vision of a geek. ...
Monument of 50 meters high rehearsing a new "Don Quixote" titled "Mr. Quixote". "Mr. Quixote" tells the story of the adventures of Mr. Quixote through the 21st century through the vision of a geek. ...
W5420
20.10.2012
“These things I do, and shall do, if I can, are no longer, or are not yet, or never were, or never will be, or if they were, if they are, if they will be, were not here, are not here, will not be here, but elsewhere”. - Alessandro Laita
WWW
TITLE “These things I do, and shall do, if I can, are no longer, or are not yet, or never were, or never will be, or if they were, if they are, if they will be, were not here, are not here, will not be here, but elsewhere”. DESCRIPTION The who ...
TITLE “These things I do, and shall do, if I can, are no longer, or are not yet, or never were, or never will be, or if they were, if they are, if they will be, were not here, are not here, will not be here, but elsewhere”. DESCRIPTION The who ...
W4312
24.05.2011
Msquare4 - Andre Kodde
WWW
A call for unrealized projects Msquare4 You walk on an apparently miles long quay and all of a sudden a museum building arises. This time on poles over the water, but Msquare4 can be placed in every desired environment. Msquare4’s floor-plan is a gr ...
A call for unrealized projects Msquare4 You walk on an apparently miles long quay and all of a sudden a museum building arises. This time on poles over the water, but Msquare4 can be placed in every desired environment. Msquare4’s floor-plan is a gr ...
W4188
24.05.2011
BIOTOPS - petra novakova ondreickova
WWW
I would like to create a largespace installation made by the paper. Title of work : BIOTOPS. Technique wich I would to use for my work created is filigran- perforated paper. Long-term work I interest on the paper. ...
I would like to create a largespace installation made by the paper. Title of work : BIOTOPS. Technique wich I would to use for my work created is filigran- perforated paper. Long-term work I interest on the paper. ...
W5396
20.10.2012
Reason - Darío Corbeira
WWW
Representations of space must… have a substantial role and a specific influence in the production of space Henri Lefebvre Reason Reason is a 1994 unrealized project. Try to relate Art, Enlightenment, the development class city, urban geography, cl ...
Representations of space must… have a substantial role and a specific influence in the production of space Henri Lefebvre Reason Reason is a 1994 unrealized project. Try to relate Art, Enlightenment, the development class city, urban geography, cl ...
W4343
24.05.2011
Revolutionary Travel!  - Alicia Herrero
WWW
Revolutionary Travel! Sailing-Novel Each chapter is a port on the continue line of South American rivers from Port Brais of the Beni river to the Ucayali river. From the Amazonas through Iquitos, arriving to Leticia, Manaus and other, crossing to th ...
Revolutionary Travel! Sailing-Novel Each chapter is a port on the continue line of South American rivers from Port Brais of the Beni river to the Ucayali river. From the Amazonas through Iquitos, arriving to Leticia, Manaus and other, crossing to th ...
W4800
20.01.2012
Turf - IDADA Art Pavilion - Jeremy Tubbs
WWW
Turf - IDADA Art Pavilion Super Bowl weekend will coincide with the IDADA First Friday Art Tour on Friday February 3rd. The Indianapolis Downtown Artists and Dealers Association (IDADA) are hosting a unique, visual arts event and pavilion in downtown Ind ...
Turf - IDADA Art Pavilion Super Bowl weekend will coincide with the IDADA First Friday Art Tour on Friday February 3rd. The Indianapolis Downtown Artists and Dealers Association (IDADA) are hosting a unique, visual arts event and pavilion in downtown Ind ...
W3556
12.05.2011
Breakdown: A Prototypical Monument to the Open Road - John Landewe
WWW
Proposal John Landewe 152 Douglass St. Brooklyn, NY 917.676.950 Breakdown: A Prototypical Monument to the Open Road Breakdown is a self-contained, nomadic monument dedicated to industrial-strength mobility and the acceleration of the postmodern c ...
Proposal John Landewe 152 Douglass St. Brooklyn, NY 917.676.950 Breakdown: A Prototypical Monument to the Open Road Breakdown is a self-contained, nomadic monument dedicated to industrial-strength mobility and the acceleration of the postmodern c ...
W5375
19.10.2012
Trail Blazing Awesomeness: A submission to create an interactive hiking experience - K. Alex Johnson
WWW
A submission to create an interactive hiking experience ...
A submission to create an interactive hiking experience ...
W3618
14.05.2011
jason lazarus
WWW
I have started an archive of impossible art ideas. The archive, when exhibited, is a digitally projected slide show, projected on a small white wooden cube sitting on the floor of the exhibition space. ...
I have started an archive of impossible art ideas. The archive, when exhibited, is a digitally projected slide show, projected on a small white wooden cube sitting on the floor of the exhibition space. ...
W4232
24.05.2011
Framing al-Zarqawi - Nicholas Knight
WWW
Nicholas Knight Framing al-Zarqawi, 2006 Mixed media installation, including framed photographs, podium, US and Iraqi flags, rugs, easels, curtain, furniture, etc. Size determined by installation [never realized] In June 2006, US-led forces in Ir ...
Nicholas Knight Framing al-Zarqawi, 2006 Mixed media installation, including framed photographs, podium, US and Iraqi flags, rugs, easels, curtain, furniture, etc. Size determined by installation [never realized] In June 2006, US-led forces in Ir ...
W3743
18.05.2011
Rave Joy Mobile - Kai-Oi Jay Yung
WWW
A sound proofed enclosed box, mirrored on outside, pitch-black interior lit by 100 flashing neon LEDS, fitted with strawberry smoke nebuliser, fan and ventilation shaft to sit in the gallery. To be installed with state of the art sound system, digitally l ...
A sound proofed enclosed box, mirrored on outside, pitch-black interior lit by 100 flashing neon LEDS, fitted with strawberry smoke nebuliser, fan and ventilation shaft to sit in the gallery. To be installed with state of the art sound system, digitally l ...
W4200
24.05.2011
Money what else - Angelo Ricciardi
WWW
My projects are often unrealized projects. Many and different the reasons. Practical difficulties, like the lack of money, the lack of a physical suitable space, of real opportunities, are certainly present and important, but, at the end, surmountable. Mo ...
My projects are often unrealized projects. Many and different the reasons. Practical difficulties, like the lack of money, the lack of a physical suitable space, of real opportunities, are certainly present and important, but, at the end, surmountable. Mo ...
W3889
20.05.2011
Fireflies - Fani Zguro
WWW
“Fireflies” is a site-specific installation, I got the idea while traveling for Bogota to Medellin by land, through the mountain. For the first time after sever years I saw groups of fireflies in the woods. Why there are not so many fireflies around t ...
“Fireflies” is a site-specific installation, I got the idea while traveling for Bogota to Medellin by land, through the mountain. For the first time after sever years I saw groups of fireflies in the woods. Why there are not so many fireflies around t ...
W3987
21.05.2011
MEMORY CONFETTI  - STEPHEN j SHANABROOK / VERONIKA GEORGIEVA
WWW
The project MEMORY CONFETTI consists of two parts: through various social network sites we will introduce the project and request the public’s time based participation in sending us images that will be turned into 35 mm slides. These slides mixed with n ...
The project MEMORY CONFETTI consists of two parts: through various social network sites we will introduce the project and request the public’s time based participation in sending us images that will be turned into 35 mm slides. These slides mixed with n ...
U10007
01.09.1995
Merci, Thank you, Danke: Les 2 sujets  - Thomas Hirschorn
Unbuilt Roads
Pour les affichés 4x3 devant l'immeuble Valois/Saint-Honoré je propose deux sujets issus de la serie "merci, Thank you, Danke". Ces sujets sont deux collages sur carton d'un format assez petit (eviron 20x40 pour l'un et 20x40 pour l'autre) Cette serie j ...
Pour les affichés 4x3 devant l'immeuble Valois/Saint-Honoré je propose deux sujets issus de la serie "merci, Thank you, Danke". Ces sujets sont deux collages sur carton d'un format assez petit (eviron 20x40 pour l'un et 20x40 pour l'autre) Cette serie j ...
D10830
01.01.2008
Beautiful Neons: Gazda - Paulina Olowska
DAAD
In 2008 I had established an unofficial society called " Beautiful Neons" we have about 10 unofficial friends and members. Our aim is to collect material on the art of neons and the remains of it. When we think there is a chance of renovation a particular ...
In 2008 I had established an unofficial society called " Beautiful Neons" we have about 10 unofficial friends and members. Our aim is to collect material on the art of neons and the remains of it. When we think there is a chance of renovation a particular ...
W3582
13.05.2011
Umfassung (verborgen) - Sabine Hagmann
WWW
Idee Der Perimeter des St. Johanns-Platz wird während einem Jahr exakt mit einer zweieinhalb Meter hohen Wand eingefasst. Sie schliesst das ganze Gelände ein, mit Rasen, Wegen und Parkbänken. Die kleine Rasenfläche wird durch die Wand als Volu ...
Idee Der Perimeter des St. Johanns-Platz wird während einem Jahr exakt mit einer zweieinhalb Meter hohen Wand eingefasst. Sie schliesst das ganze Gelände ein, mit Rasen, Wegen und Parkbänken. Die kleine Rasenfläche wird durch die Wand als Volu ...
W5070
05.09.2012
Unterirdischer Birkenwald / Subterranean Birch Forest - Römer + Römer
WWW
Unterirdischer Birkenwald / Subterranean Birch Forest Unrealized: Land Art Project Realized: Print of Wallpaper (1.80 m x 150 m) RÖMER + RÖMER, 2005 „Unterirdischer Birkenwald”
 Als Landartprojekt planten RÖMER & RÖMER den Bau eines Deich ...
Unterirdischer Birkenwald / Subterranean Birch Forest Unrealized: Land Art Project Realized: Print of Wallpaper (1.80 m x 150 m) RÖMER + RÖMER, 2005 „Unterirdischer Birkenwald”
 Als Landartprojekt planten RÖMER & RÖMER den Bau eines Deich ...
W4805
07.08.2012
MATTHEW ROSE
WWW
Where Does It Itch? is a project involving 100 of my framed collage works aligned in grid or horizon on a wall. Originally slated for Ogilvy Mather Direct as a proposal, it was abandoned. This PDF is that original proposal. Matthew Rose is an Americ ...
Where Does It Itch? is a project involving 100 of my framed collage works aligned in grid or horizon on a wall. Originally slated for Ogilvy Mather Direct as a proposal, it was abandoned. This PDF is that original proposal. Matthew Rose is an Americ ...
W5364
19.10.2012
Ongoing Meeting Between Reality and Memory - Na'ama Zussman
WWW
Unrealized Project : This work offers an Ongoing Meeting Between Reality and Memory, onto anyone can reflects and projects himself, as his dimensions of presentation – past , present, future and time, and therefore creates sustainable relations betwe ...
Unrealized Project : This work offers an Ongoing Meeting Between Reality and Memory, onto anyone can reflects and projects himself, as his dimensions of presentation – past , present, future and time, and therefore creates sustainable relations betwe ...