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.

Art and Ourselves: A Proposal for the city of Nordhorn - Allen Rupperssberg

Catwalk - Sylive Fleury

Theater der Leere - Werner Ruhnau and Yves Klein

"Ileana, I love you" - Maurizo Cattelan

Museum - Katharina Fritsch

Billboard - Jimmie Durham

City Hall Tower Night Ilumination - Krysztof Wodiczko

Unrealized Projects - Jonas Meckas

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

Visual Poem: Cap I Cua - Joan Brossa

Agency of Unrealised Projects
Logo by Liam Gillick
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Date
Title
Source
Description
Tags
W3760
18.05.2011
2345 - Isabela Grosseova and Jesper Alvaer
WWW
2345 Public art proposal for Atlantic Ocean Drive, Norway. (English summary) (Norwegian in attached pdf) English summary: 2345: Proposal for the Atlantic Ocean Road 2010 The Atlantic Ocean Road (AOR) function already as a national monument. It ...
2345 Public art proposal for Atlantic Ocean Drive, Norway. (English summary) (Norwegian in attached pdf) English summary: 2345: Proposal for the Atlantic Ocean Road 2010 The Atlantic Ocean Road (AOR) function already as a national monument. It ...
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 ...
W4779
03.06.2011
Trolling - Karen Hibbard
WWW
This project is too expensive for me to make without a grant and physically too large without paying for storage. However, the theme is relevant as it addresses issues around global warming and climate change as well as our addiction to consumerism an ...
This project is too expensive for me to make without a grant and physically too large without paying for storage. However, the theme is relevant as it addresses issues around global warming and climate change as well as our addiction to consumerism an ...
W4516
25.05.2011
Viktor Timofeev
WWW
In this painting I have "created" a triumphal arch constructed out of 13 worker-housing units, stacked precariously and defying the laws of physics. While this village/monument is rendered to appear structurally sound, its context is most certainly utopia ...
In this painting I have "created" a triumphal arch constructed out of 13 worker-housing units, stacked precariously and defying the laws of physics. While this village/monument is rendered to appear structurally sound, its context is most certainly utopia ...
W4977
24.08.2012
More Light - Ana Torfs
WWW
Ana Torfs, MORE LIGHT (2007) Animated light sculpture in white neon letters. The two words, at 35 meters above street level, measure 18 m (L) x 2 m (H). Four visual artists had been invited to propose a work for the new campus of the Sint-Lukas U ...
Ana Torfs, MORE LIGHT (2007) Animated light sculpture in white neon letters. The two words, at 35 meters above street level, measure 18 m (L) x 2 m (H). Four visual artists had been invited to propose a work for the new campus of the Sint-Lukas U ...
W5135
19.09.2012
The 103rd Kilometer - Sasha Tamarin
WWW
The 103rd Kilometer My work is driven by the need to return to my birthplace, in order to analyze the factors that affected my identity development. My childhood memories are built from stories, images and dreams. When I finally get physically to ...
The 103rd Kilometer My work is driven by the need to return to my birthplace, in order to analyze the factors that affected my identity development. My childhood memories are built from stories, images and dreams. When I finally get physically to ...
W5266
13.10.2012
Vineeragina
WWW
How To Choose The Best patient that number professionals statements important affect your mental health? One of the most reliable places where you can acquire and marijuana only and a limited amount to any patient at any given time. <a href=http://www.vap ...
How To Choose The Best patient that number professionals statements important affect your mental health? One of the most reliable places where you can acquire and marijuana only and a limited amount to any patient at any given time. <a href=http://www.vap ...
W5444
20.10.2012
The Ghost Room - Veronika Gorelik
WWW
27 crates 6 tones of amber--13000 pounds 10 years to construct baroque music-bach It is around 8 evening--precisely when all black tie art and social events start around a metropolitan city. Not unlike any of these type of events -many people gather ...
27 crates 6 tones of amber--13000 pounds 10 years to construct baroque music-bach It is around 8 evening--precisely when all black tie art and social events start around a metropolitan city. Not unlike any of these type of events -many people gather ...
W4899
11.08.2012
Brasília, Cars, Pools & Other Modernities - Clarissa Tossin
WWW
“Brasília, Cars, Pools & Other Modernities” is the culmination of a body of work that departs from my experience of growing up in Brasília, Brazil’s planned capital. The project consists of a site-specific action in which a 1970s Volkswagen Brasil ...
“Brasília, Cars, Pools & Other Modernities” is the culmination of a body of work that departs from my experience of growing up in Brasília, Brazil’s planned capital. The project consists of a site-specific action in which a 1970s Volkswagen Brasil ...
W4593
25.05.2011
Sketch-collage for a project - antonio menchen
WWW
Untitled. 2008. Sketch-collage for a project. Variable measures. ...
Untitled. 2008. Sketch-collage for a project. Variable measures. ...
W4005
22.05.2011
Chris Johnson
WWW
I propose to cut involute spur gears into the ice of a central park lake. Imposing a simple machine will add something to the natural world. A prototype of the proposal can be seen at: http://vimeo.com/23778323 ...
I propose to cut involute spur gears into the ice of a central park lake. Imposing a simple machine will add something to the natural world. A prototype of the proposal can be seen at: http://vimeo.com/23778323 ...
W3839
19.05.2011
La Burqa Project. - Lode Kuylenstierna
WWW
La Burqa Parapluie:
Poster: 59,4 cm × 42 cm 
Copyright Lode Kuylenstierna 2011 La Burqa Taxi:
Poster: 42 cm × 59,4 cm 
Copyright Lode Kuylenstierna 2011 La Burqa Bandage:
Poster: 42 cm × 59,4 cm 
Copyright Lode Kuylenstierna 2011 T ...
La Burqa Parapluie:
Poster: 59,4 cm × 42 cm 
Copyright Lode Kuylenstierna 2011 La Burqa Taxi:
Poster: 42 cm × 59,4 cm 
Copyright Lode Kuylenstierna 2011 La Burqa Bandage:
Poster: 42 cm × 59,4 cm 
Copyright Lode Kuylenstierna 2011 T ...
W4237
24.05.2011
Susanna Byrne
WWW
People are incalculable, not perfect organisms. Systems and processes require the functioning of all the appropriate elements of a formula - remove, alter, adjust or replace any and the algorithm will malfunction. There is a vernacular of aesthetics emb ...
People are incalculable, not perfect organisms. Systems and processes require the functioning of all the appropriate elements of a formula - remove, alter, adjust or replace any and the algorithm will malfunction. There is a vernacular of aesthetics emb ...
W5137
20.09.2012
Lolita Lebron - Llaima Sanfiorenzo
WWW
LOLITA (Erste Fassung) Regie und Idee Llaima Suwani Inhaltsangaben Llaima Suwani und Eyerí Cruz Drehbuch Eyerí Cruz Innen Betriebshalle einer Näherei – Vormittags Eine mit industriellen Nähmaschinen vollgestellte grosse Halle, wo viele uniformierte ...
LOLITA (Erste Fassung) Regie und Idee Llaima Suwani Inhaltsangaben Llaima Suwani und Eyerí Cruz Drehbuch Eyerí Cruz Innen Betriebshalle einer Näherei – Vormittags Eine mit industriellen Nähmaschinen vollgestellte grosse Halle, wo viele uniformierte ...
W5109
15.09.2012
Cut - Perce Jerrom
WWW
Perce Jerrom 8 Kashmir House, 66 Gibbon Road, SE15 3XE percejerrom@gmail.com 07760392651 www.percejerrom.com My unrealized project would be entitled “Cut” the piece would be a single channel video installation of ...
Perce Jerrom 8 Kashmir House, 66 Gibbon Road, SE15 3XE percejerrom@gmail.com 07760392651 www.percejerrom.com My unrealized project would be entitled “Cut” the piece would be a single channel video installation of ...
W4703
26.05.2011
Sterling Crispin
WWW
My project involves a globally connected network of participants wearing EEG brain-computer interfaces. By displaying the average of thousands of live readings back to the participants their minds will slowly become closer to the average. Emerging brai ...
My project involves a globally connected network of participants wearing EEG brain-computer interfaces. By displaying the average of thousands of live readings back to the participants their minds will slowly become closer to the average. Emerging brai ...
W10876
12.02.2015
Walking (Autonomous) Sculpture - Genco Gulan
WWW
I am interested in making moving (autonomous) sculptures with real robots. I did worked with some other different kinds of robots and got a prize with them at EMAF in 2005 as part of a larger project . But they were smaller, and theri walking, moving capa ...
I am interested in making moving (autonomous) sculptures with real robots. I did worked with some other different kinds of robots and got a prize with them at EMAF in 2005 as part of a larger project . But they were smaller, and theri walking, moving capa ...
W5029
31.08.2012
Marsh Islands - Mags Harries & Lajos Heder
WWW
Mags Harries & Lajos Héder Marsh Islands Location: South Bay Harbor Trails, Boston, MA (Proposal 2006) Client: South Bay Harbor Trail Public Art Initiative, Edward Ingersoll Browne Fund of the City of Boston Material: Marsh grass, steel, structural ...
Mags Harries & Lajos Héder Marsh Islands Location: South Bay Harbor Trails, Boston, MA (Proposal 2006) Client: South Bay Harbor Trail Public Art Initiative, Edward Ingersoll Browne Fund of the City of Boston Material: Marsh grass, steel, structural ...
W10895
23.03.2015
The Great Wall Archive - The Bureau for Transgressive Tourism and the Acquisition of its Archives
WWW
The Great Wall Archive presents many potential narratives through the collection and exhibition of an excess of specific and seemingly arbitrary information. Its conception was spurred by a curiosity in the ways we communicate with one another, specifical ...
The Great Wall Archive presents many potential narratives through the collection and exhibition of an excess of specific and seemingly arbitrary information. Its conception was spurred by a curiosity in the ways we communicate with one another, specifical ...
W3614
13.05.2011
Thanasis Chondros & Alexandra Katsiani
WWW
In July 1981, and again in February 1989, we proposed to friends of ours and other artists and to everyone it may concern-through texts in the magazines “Sin kai Plin” and “To Bitoni”, to found a football team. We made this proposal because of ...
In July 1981, and again in February 1989, we proposed to friends of ours and other artists and to everyone it may concern-through texts in the magazines “Sin kai Plin” and “To Bitoni”, to found a football team. We made this proposal because of ...
W5063
04.09.2012
TheStore - Tine Wilde
WWW
TheStore: The Construct of a Life Package. Proposal for Arhus Kunstbygning 2011. The exhibition space is piled with boxes, containing (fragments of) works of art, gathered around a wooden framework. The visitor is invited to fill up the framework with ...
TheStore: The Construct of a Life Package. Proposal for Arhus Kunstbygning 2011. The exhibition space is piled with boxes, containing (fragments of) works of art, gathered around a wooden framework. The visitor is invited to fill up the framework with ...
W3543
12.05.2011
L'art mis à nu par ses artistes, même... Rifiuto della Creazione / Everything has been done, so why do „everything” ? - Gregor Rozanski
WWW
working title and object(s) as complex game of meanings. this is a meeting of ideas of two rebels form different backgrounds - artist Marcel Duchamp and theoretican and activist Antonio Negri. Negri and Duchamp have one the same opinion that is be ...
working title and object(s) as complex game of meanings. this is a meeting of ideas of two rebels form different backgrounds - artist Marcel Duchamp and theoretican and activist Antonio Negri. Negri and Duchamp have one the same opinion that is be ...
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 ...
W4428
25.05.2011
The architectural charter - Philippe Rahm
WWW
The architectural charter Project for Vassivière, France From 2003 All the territory of Vassivière, France ...
The architectural charter Project for Vassivière, France From 2003 All the territory of Vassivière, France ...
W3651
15.05.2011
A Lighthouse - Goran Tomcic
WWW
“A Lighthouse” is an installation consisting of three main parts: 1. Three walls (each wall app. 15’ long/20’ high) completely wallpapered with cut outs of many different designs of gold holographic films; 2. The floor space in between the walls c ...
“A Lighthouse” is an installation consisting of three main parts: 1. Three walls (each wall app. 15’ long/20’ high) completely wallpapered with cut outs of many different designs of gold holographic films; 2. The floor space in between the walls c ...
W4641
25.05.2011
Unrealized Project: - Diana Clarke
WWW
Unrealized Project: One of my unrealized projects is an exhibition about exhibition making. The exhibition as a medium in itself is becoming popularly appreciated, and is only beginning to become understood. We are in a time when such an exhibition wou ...
Unrealized Project: One of my unrealized projects is an exhibition about exhibition making. The exhibition as a medium in itself is becoming popularly appreciated, and is only beginning to become understood. We are in a time when such an exhibition wou ...