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.

The pyramids...to be seen to be believed - Jonathan Monk

Douglas Gordon - 5 year drive-by; proposal for a public artwork.

Passage - Richard Wentworth

Eight Days a Week - Joe Scanlan

Isometric Projection - Sol Lewitt

The Rosetta Garden - Gary Simmons

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

Entwurf für einen erneuerten Malkasten 1992 - 1994 - Ulrike Holthöfer

MAK - Wien  - Rosemarie Trockel

Monument to Democracy - Kounellis

Agency of Unrealised Projects
Logo by Liam Gillick
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Date
Title
Source
Description
Tags
W4281
24.05.2011
veronique bellavista
WWW
To whom it may concern: Sorry to send this in French, for lack of time since we are the 24th of May, and I had knowledge of your offer only today. I also hope this material will get some protection, since it is indeed a project that has not been ...
To whom it may concern: Sorry to send this in French, for lack of time since we are the 24th of May, and I had knowledge of your offer only today. I also hope this material will get some protection, since it is indeed a project that has not been ...
W3843
19.05.2011
Pamela Harris
WWW
"When I was at art school, everyone else would make art and find the best parts and then try to cover up everything else so that was all you saw. I was fascinated by the part that didn't appear to be working and I'd keep working on that part until it took ...
"When I was at art school, everyone else would make art and find the best parts and then try to cover up everything else so that was all you saw. I was fascinated by the part that didn't appear to be working and I'd keep working on that part until it took ...
W4403
25.05.2011
Landscape Follies - Eleanna Horiti
WWW
Landscape Follies A series that involves the creation of ‘new’ unnatural imaginary landscapes through a series of actions, such as excavations, exposure of strata and the creation of fake elements using natural materials. ...
Landscape Follies A series that involves the creation of ‘new’ unnatural imaginary landscapes through a series of actions, such as excavations, exposure of strata and the creation of fake elements using natural materials. ...
U9769
05.02.1997
Chen H.V.O + G.T. - Bertrand Lavier
Unbuilt Roads
J'ai [illegible] de [illegible] un faux [?]drome vous l' echangeur automatic à l'etui de la ville du Hare. [Illegible] monde itait d'accord, c'ert la virou [illegible] [?]quelle cela ne it[?] pas fuit. [illegible] 5.2.97 ...
J'ai [illegible] de [illegible] un faux [?]drome vous l' echangeur automatic à l'etui de la ville du Hare. [Illegible] monde itait d'accord, c'ert la virou [illegible] [?]quelle cela ne it[?] pas fuit. [illegible] 5.2.97 ...
W3813
19.05.2011
Bruce Gray
WWW
This is a wood sphere that I drilled into and mounted lots of high powered rare earth magnets. They are all facing the magnetic polarity in the same direction. There was also a large half sphere that I attached magnets with the polarity opposing the sph ...
This is a wood sphere that I drilled into and mounted lots of high powered rare earth magnets. They are all facing the magnetic polarity in the same direction. There was also a large half sphere that I attached magnets with the polarity opposing the sph ...
W3801
18.05.2011
Wish Fountain  - T. Mikey
WWW
Website: tmikey.com/wish Wish Fountain is over 512 square feet of Glowing, Flowing Water Cascading down the sides of an 18 Foot High Transparent Pyramid. Wish Fountain is over 512 square feet of Glowing, Flowing Water Cascading down the sides of ...
Website: tmikey.com/wish Wish Fountain is over 512 square feet of Glowing, Flowing Water Cascading down the sides of an 18 Foot High Transparent Pyramid. Wish Fountain is over 512 square feet of Glowing, Flowing Water Cascading down the sides of ...
W3594
13.05.2011
Marmangios in the city - Ana Fernández (Miranda Texidor)
WWW
I am interested in the poetic research, finding and wonderment of other worlds. I find the keeping and tending of imaginary spaces fascinating. These spaces are playful moments of time or matter, which exist mainly in children’s play as marvelous secret ...
I am interested in the poetic research, finding and wonderment of other worlds. I find the keeping and tending of imaginary spaces fascinating. These spaces are playful moments of time or matter, which exist mainly in children’s play as marvelous secret ...
W5009
30.08.2012
Structure for Formal and Material Imagination - Scott Massey
WWW
Structure for Formal and Material Imagination Travel to another dimension has long held our fascination. From Alice’s tentative leap down the rabbit hole, Wade Davis’ experients with the world’s psychotropic flora, or teleporting from the bridg ...
Structure for Formal and Material Imagination Travel to another dimension has long held our fascination. From Alice’s tentative leap down the rabbit hole, Wade Davis’ experients with the world’s psychotropic flora, or teleporting from the bridg ...
W5425
20.10.2012
Peace State of aWareness - Mo Abd-Ulla
WWW
Is peace an exceptional state? Is it fact that war breeds another war? Is war an inevitable destiny of mankind? This is a public art intervention working with and around the war monuments in London within global context of war and peace. Aiming to fr ...
Is peace an exceptional state? Is it fact that war breeds another war? Is war an inevitable destiny of mankind? This is a public art intervention working with and around the war monuments in London within global context of war and peace. Aiming to fr ...
W4008
22.05.2011
YOU WILL BE FAMOUS - Alessandro Rolandi
WWW
Interactive-Installation 1) At the height of at least 5th or 6th floor of a public art space (museum or foundation) it will be installed a door opening on the void. The door must be red and in wood, liek the door leading to a room in a house. Actuall ...
Interactive-Installation 1) At the height of at least 5th or 6th floor of a public art space (museum or foundation) it will be installed a door opening on the void. The door must be red and in wood, liek the door leading to a room in a house. Actuall ...
W4528
25.05.2011
The World Exhibition - Karl Kilian
WWW
The World Exhibition – A project by Karl Kilian General information The first time there will be an exhibition all over the world. The project combines the internet and the real world, space and place, the artworld and the world population. For this ...
The World Exhibition – A project by Karl Kilian General information The first time there will be an exhibition all over the world. The project combines the internet and the real world, space and place, the artworld and the world population. For this ...
W4070
23.05.2011
Rebeka Bučinel
WWW
The leading idea is not to create only a new home for culture in Miren, but to create a multi-purpose central square. ...
The leading idea is not to create only a new home for culture in Miren, but to create a multi-purpose central square. ...
W4755
27.05.2011
Dreamy - Oona Stern
WWW
dreamy A wall is constructed brick-and-mortar style, but instead of clay or stone, the bricks are made from shrubbery. It is both a wall and a topiary, bringing together architecture and the garden. As typical of hedgerows, it serves to define space, ...
dreamy A wall is constructed brick-and-mortar style, but instead of clay or stone, the bricks are made from shrubbery. It is both a wall and a topiary, bringing together architecture and the garden. As typical of hedgerows, it serves to define space, ...
W4056
23.05.2011
pencil drawings on paper by Jack Kirby and Thom of Finland - Paul Beuchat
WWW
Exhibition of pencil drawings on paper by Jack Kirby and Thom of Finland focusing on images that are similar in form, material and subject matter - muscular men in uniform - to expose the drawn line as a perfect mirror of the maker, independently of form ...
Exhibition of pencil drawings on paper by Jack Kirby and Thom of Finland focusing on images that are similar in form, material and subject matter - muscular men in uniform - to expose the drawn line as a perfect mirror of the maker, independently of form ...
W5154
24.09.2012
Borrowing the land - Joe Tymkow
WWW
This proposal was submitted to the 2012 UK Cultural Olympiad under the heading 'Artists Taking the Lead'. If chosen/realized it would have represented the largest piece of Land Art to date. ...
This proposal was submitted to the 2012 UK Cultural Olympiad under the heading 'Artists Taking the Lead'. If chosen/realized it would have represented the largest piece of Land Art to date. ...
W5220
07.10.2012
Return - Justyna Gruszczyk
WWW
Justyna Gruszczyk RETURN Project consists on scenting former Lutheran church in Toruń with the incense, which is used by Orthodox Church. Interior of the church will remain empty. In a visual way nothing will change. The source of the fragrance will be h ...
Justyna Gruszczyk RETURN Project consists on scenting former Lutheran church in Toruń with the incense, which is used by Orthodox Church. Interior of the church will remain empty. In a visual way nothing will change. The source of the fragrance will be h ...
W5092
11.09.2012
seductive against the grain - Harald Schole
WWW
¿Station at odds? Research and proposals for the South-Axis, Amsterdam The development of the great public transit stations of the present century can be compared to development processes of large urban complexes. The station area of the future will i ...
¿Station at odds? Research and proposals for the South-Axis, Amsterdam The development of the great public transit stations of the present century can be compared to development processes of large urban complexes. The station area of the future will i ...
W4282
24.05.2011
USS PALIN - Kevin Sampson
WWW
Book of Ezekiel (12: 1-2) " ... Oh mortals, thou dwellest among the rebellious breed. They have eyes to see but see not; they have ears to hear, but hear not..." I have been constructing vessels for several years. After thinking about the current s ...
Book of Ezekiel (12: 1-2) " ... Oh mortals, thou dwellest among the rebellious breed. They have eyes to see but see not; they have ears to hear, but hear not..." I have been constructing vessels for several years. After thinking about the current s ...
W3954
20.05.2011
Doug Fogelson
WWW
This is a project to make a house shape out of chain link fence material, razor wire, fluorescent lights and plants. It was intended as a comment on Guantanamo Prison and the promise of American society. 10.4.06 Dear Mr. Littman, We would l ...
This is a project to make a house shape out of chain link fence material, razor wire, fluorescent lights and plants. It was intended as a comment on Guantanamo Prison and the promise of American society. 10.4.06 Dear Mr. Littman, We would l ...
W4268
24.05.2011
The Winter Garden - Kristin Jones / Andrew Ginzel
WWW
Proposal for The Winter Garden New York City 1986 ...
Proposal for The Winter Garden New York City 1986 ...
W4084
23.05.2011
"After the Council"  - Hunter/Lassal
WWW
"After the Council" (2006) is a playful reflection upon power and adornment on one level, as well as resources and recycling on another. ...
"After the Council" (2006) is a playful reflection upon power and adornment on one level, as well as resources and recycling on another. ...
W4700
26.05.2011
Counting Time - Catherine Cullen
WWW
Counting Time is a proposal for seven precious and semi-precious stones in colors that range from red to yellow, to be rough hewn into lumpy orbs. Counting stones hover in the mist of the pre-verbal yet bear an acute understanding of the imprecision inevi ...
Counting Time is a proposal for seven precious and semi-precious stones in colors that range from red to yellow, to be rough hewn into lumpy orbs. Counting stones hover in the mist of the pre-verbal yet bear an acute understanding of the imprecision inevi ...
W4590
25.05.2011
Feniksi - Feniksi
WWW
From: Feniksi Re: The Artist’s Heart for Art-Historians, Curators and Art-Critics A Quitting Proposal This proposal has derived from a fond desire to quit being an artist. It has been for some time ...
From: Feniksi Re: The Artist’s Heart for Art-Historians, Curators and Art-Critics A Quitting Proposal This proposal has derived from a fond desire to quit being an artist. It has been for some time ...
W5475
21.10.2012
FROM RAPHAEL TO MOHAMED - Mo Abd-Ulla
WWW
The transformation of aesthetics and politics A practical research explicitly distinguishes between what is beautiful and what is interesting, exploring the differences between representation and reality. The project tackles the religious, social, c ...
The transformation of aesthetics and politics A practical research explicitly distinguishes between what is beautiful and what is interesting, exploring the differences between representation and reality. The project tackles the religious, social, c ...
W4020
22.05.2011
Rural pleasure trip / an investigation of sounds - Gisela Weimann
WWW
Gisela Weimann >www.giselaweimann.de< Since the 80s the focal points of my projects are sound installations and experimental music-theatre productions that include artists and theorists from different fields and national descend. Gisela Weimann ...
Gisela Weimann >www.giselaweimann.de< Since the 80s the focal points of my projects are sound installations and experimental music-theatre productions that include artists and theorists from different fields and national descend. Gisela Weimann ...
U9903
01.01.1994
Art and Ourselves: A Proposal for the city of Nordhorn - Allen Rupperssberg
Unbuilt Roads
see my catalog from the Magazine. The complete text is there. (eventually reasons why the work has not been realised) Political Previous Publications (?) Catalog from where art Magazine 1996 Exisiting Documents: to be requested from No ...
see my catalog from the Magazine. The complete text is there. (eventually reasons why the work has not been realised) Political Previous Publications (?) Catalog from where art Magazine 1996 Exisiting Documents: to be requested from No ...