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.

Unrealized Projects - Jonas Meckas

Project tor the Veterans Administration Hospital--Bay Pines, Florida. - Robert Morris

Entwurf für einen erneuerten Malkasten 1992 - 1994 - Ulrike Holthöfer

119. PROJET DE DESTRUCTION DU MUSEE 1970 - 1971 - Jef Geys

Nicht realisierte Projekte - Stefan Demary

KEEPING IN TOUCH - Allan Kaprow

Monumento all'agricoltura 1969-70 - Alighiero Boetti

Tulips for Amsterdam - Isa Genzken

654 THINGS from The United States - Edward Ruscha

Project for the Initiative Mahnmal Homosexuellenverfolgung, Frankfurt  - Jeff Wall

Agency of Unrealised Projects
Logo by Liam Gillick
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Date
Title
Source
Description
Tags
W3880
19.05.2011
fly-though - Kasper Kovitz
WWW
‘fly-though’ animation of this project at: http://www.re-title.com/artists/Kasper-Kovitz3.asp ‘witchbunker’, a project begun in 2001, is a walk-in sculpture. It consists of a one-room traditional American pioneer log cabin encased in a concret ...
‘fly-though’ animation of this project at: http://www.re-title.com/artists/Kasper-Kovitz3.asp ‘witchbunker’, a project begun in 2001, is a walk-in sculpture. It consists of a one-room traditional American pioneer log cabin encased in a concret ...
W4888
10.08.2012
Replay - Warren Neidich
WWW
Replay Introduction: The word Replay takes its name from the phenomena usually associated with sporting events, for instance football matches, in which a replay of a fabulous and exciting goal is projected upon a large digital screen in full view of ...
Replay Introduction: The word Replay takes its name from the phenomena usually associated with sporting events, for instance football matches, in which a replay of a fabulous and exciting goal is projected upon a large digital screen in full view of ...
W5083
08.09.2012
Safety for 24 hours - tat ort (Alexandra Berlinger, Wolfgang Fiel)
WWW
Commissioned by curator Thomas Kaestle on behalf of the city of Hannover, the project - among others – was expected to invigorate the discourse on public art in general as well as to provide an example for the future development of public art initiative ...
Commissioned by curator Thomas Kaestle on behalf of the city of Hannover, the project - among others – was expected to invigorate the discourse on public art in general as well as to provide an example for the future development of public art initiative ...
W3540
11.05.2011
New Bridge for Dilligence  - Tomas Pecha
WWW
new bridge for dilligence beer bridge for oversitting. sitting on more chairs, oversitting from place to placeinstead of direct movement and compulsory czech beer.some ideas are thirsty.some need to be oversitted. tommorrow reality. intention of new bri ...
new bridge for dilligence beer bridge for oversitting. sitting on more chairs, oversitting from place to placeinstead of direct movement and compulsory czech beer.some ideas are thirsty.some need to be oversitted. tommorrow reality. intention of new bri ...
W4569
25.05.2011
Giraffe  - Eduardo Villanueva
WWW
Giraffe A film idea by Eduardo Villanueva. The main idea depart from one story to creat another one. The piece is simple and consist in release a Giraffe in the streets of Venice, Italy and make a film with the Giraffe interacting with the people and ...
Giraffe A film idea by Eduardo Villanueva. The main idea depart from one story to creat another one. The piece is simple and consist in release a Giraffe in the streets of Venice, Italy and make a film with the Giraffe interacting with the people and ...
W3693
16.05.2011
Liza Eurich
WWW
STATEMENT Liza Eurich / 2011.05.16 My current studio practice in engaged in a critical inquiry that considers how failure might be defined in a capacity that extends beyond its utilization as a category of judgment. Rather, failure functions alternati ...
STATEMENT Liza Eurich / 2011.05.16 My current studio practice in engaged in a critical inquiry that considers how failure might be defined in a capacity that extends beyond its utilization as a category of judgment. Rather, failure functions alternati ...
W5182
29.09.2012
Stuttgarts Crocodile - Adi Sumic
WWW
New extraordinary pattern design for brand new Porsche Cayman car. See PDF ...
New extraordinary pattern design for brand new Porsche Cayman car. See PDF ...
W3652
15.05.2011
Dederon – The Fabric of the East - Daniel Blochwitz
WWW
One of the most complex and yet unrealized projects of mine is “Dederon – The Fabric of the East” (2003-present), which literally uses the (polyester) thread named after the DDR (engl.: G.D.R.) to trace the initially noble and ambitious project of e ...
One of the most complex and yet unrealized projects of mine is “Dederon – The Fabric of the East” (2003-present), which literally uses the (polyester) thread named after the DDR (engl.: G.D.R.) to trace the initially noble and ambitious project of e ...
W3603
13.05.2011
francine LeClercq
WWW
in memoriam of a work not yet done ...
in memoriam of a work not yet done ...
U9747
01.01.1968
A House of Dust - Alison Knowles
Unbuilt Roads
The House of Dust was first a computer poem using fortran language. The quatrains are all different, each line randomly connected. The form shifting categories for the house are: the material of manufature, the locations the light source and the inhabitan ...
The House of Dust was first a computer poem using fortran language. The quatrains are all different, each line randomly connected. The form shifting categories for the house are: the material of manufature, the locations the light source and the inhabitan ...
W5143
23.09.2012
The Phoenix Atlas - The Phoenix Atlas
WWW
The Phoenix Atlas is an Internet-based art collective, run by Dutch curator/art critic Okke De Groot, Brazilian artist Ana Laura Ferreira and Croatian art writer/publisher Jan Karan. The project focuses on writing as a practice between fiction, art criti ...
The Phoenix Atlas is an Internet-based art collective, run by Dutch curator/art critic Okke De Groot, Brazilian artist Ana Laura Ferreira and Croatian art writer/publisher Jan Karan. The project focuses on writing as a practice between fiction, art criti ...
W4331
24.05.2011
PROJECT FOR EXCHANGE RADICAL MOMENTS - Andrew Stooke
WWW
PROJECT FOR EXCHANGE RADICAL MOMENTS While small shops, owned by large organisations, are closed for modernisation the staff are invited to collectively participate in a free visit to the Library at Alexandria. The visit only takes place if all staff, ...
PROJECT FOR EXCHANGE RADICAL MOMENTS While small shops, owned by large organisations, are closed for modernisation the staff are invited to collectively participate in a free visit to the Library at Alexandria. The visit only takes place if all staff, ...
W4497
25.05.2011
“Oil spill La Fenice” - KilMor Prod.
WWW
“Oil spill La Fenice” by KilMor Prod. La Fenice Teatro La Fenice is the biggest opera house in Venice, Italy and one of the most famous theatres in Europe. “La Fenice” means “The Phoenix”. A phoenix is a mythical bird that is a fire spir ...
“Oil spill La Fenice” by KilMor Prod. La Fenice Teatro La Fenice is the biggest opera house in Venice, Italy and one of the most famous theatres in Europe. “La Fenice” means “The Phoenix”. A phoenix is a mythical bird that is a fire spir ...
W10431
22.04.2014
Digital Lacuna - Nicolas Barrette
WWW
The aim of this project is to offer a new way of perceiving the internet and its influence on the physical environment. WIFI points across the city are mapped in a GIS across the city of Toronto. Where the points of highest density exist, pneumatic dom ...
The aim of this project is to offer a new way of perceiving the internet and its influence on the physical environment. WIFI points across the city are mapped in a GIS across the city of Toronto. Where the points of highest density exist, pneumatic dom ...
W4230
24.05.2011
Monument for bridges. - Dico Kruijsse
WWW
Monument for bridges. Visuals of a monumental sculpture to be made out of the remains of two countryside bridges. A road of about 20 kilometres long was rebuild. Therefore as much as 50 bridges accessing the farmlands where taken apart and demolished. ...
Monument for bridges. Visuals of a monumental sculpture to be made out of the remains of two countryside bridges. A road of about 20 kilometres long was rebuild. Therefore as much as 50 bridges accessing the farmlands where taken apart and demolished. ...
W4157
23.05.2011
UNDERGLOW - Carol Salmanson
WWW
UNDERGLOW Carol Salmanson PROJECT DESCRIPTION Underglow, a light installation inside six bays of a sidewalk shed, uses multiple kinds of light and reflective materials to create a many-hued, glowing experience. By marrying technology to aesthetic ...
UNDERGLOW Carol Salmanson PROJECT DESCRIPTION Underglow, a light installation inside six bays of a sidewalk shed, uses multiple kinds of light and reflective materials to create a many-hued, glowing experience. By marrying technology to aesthetic ...
W4308
24.05.2011
Adam Battestilli
WWW
POEM You view the world Through rose-tinted handsoap In a clear plastic bottle Pressed up against your eye. People ask you why. You sigh, and you reply, Why, it makes everything pink! And helps me rid My fingers of the stink Of ...
POEM You view the world Through rose-tinted handsoap In a clear plastic bottle Pressed up against your eye. People ask you why. You sigh, and you reply, Why, it makes everything pink! And helps me rid My fingers of the stink Of ...
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 ...
W4735
26.05.2011
Swans - Wiebke Maria Wachmann
WWW
W3981
21.05.2011
Stuart Keeler
WWW
Aurora is a sculptural work that connects the citizen to the street with seating, lighting and sculptural forms. The work offers daytime and nighttime animation with a sculptural gesture of the familiar forms. Powered by a series of low wattage LED light ...
Aurora is a sculptural work that connects the citizen to the street with seating, lighting and sculptural forms. The work offers daytime and nighttime animation with a sculptural gesture of the familiar forms. Powered by a series of low wattage LED light ...
W3871
19.05.2011
Shimon Attie
WWW
I propose to create a site-specific Installation, to be sited in Oslo, Norway, and presented during the annual Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony. The Artwork will be a large scale Installation that gives ethereal and arresting visual form to the story and tale o ...
I propose to create a site-specific Installation, to be sited in Oslo, Norway, and presented during the annual Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony. The Artwork will be a large scale Installation that gives ethereal and arresting visual form to the story and tale o ...
W4557
25.05.2011
Gravity - Kristin Jones / Andrew Ginzel
WWW
Gravity Proposal for the Pantheon Rome, Italy ...
Gravity Proposal for the Pantheon Rome, Italy ...
W4540
25.05.2011
FATHOM - Kristin Jones / Andrew Ginzel
WWW
FATHOM A PROPOSAL FOR UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES BUILDING (BMSB) Gainesville, Florida October 2008 We intend to create a work, Fathom, that is integrated within both the context and architecture of the University of Florida’s new Bi ...
FATHOM A PROPOSAL FOR UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES BUILDING (BMSB) Gainesville, Florida October 2008 We intend to create a work, Fathom, that is integrated within both the context and architecture of the University of Florida’s new Bi ...
W4109
23.05.2011
Floating Gardens of Rock City - Liliane Lijn
WWW
Floating Gardens of Rock City 1970 63.5 x 53 cm Collaged newspaper / magazine cuttings mounted on coloured card Exhibited in Propositions for Unrealised Projects Howard Wise Gallery, New York A set of four collages in which I visualised transform ...
Floating Gardens of Rock City 1970 63.5 x 53 cm Collaged newspaper / magazine cuttings mounted on coloured card Exhibited in Propositions for Unrealised Projects Howard Wise Gallery, New York A set of four collages in which I visualised transform ...
W5465
21.10.2012
Letters from the Earth - Joe Cantrell
WWW
a cross-generational piece that repurposes electronic waste into technologically mediated messages to future generations. Plastic comprises a vast amount of the material used to make the electronic consumer products that have become so much a part of our ...
a cross-generational piece that repurposes electronic waste into technologically mediated messages to future generations. Plastic comprises a vast amount of the material used to make the electronic consumer products that have become so much a part of our ...
W5432
20.10.2012
Sheli Lehadpasa (Mine for printing) - Tamar Lederberg
WWW
Sheli Lehadpasa (Mine for printing) Art constitutes a tool for contending with difficult psychological situations. A situation of loss and pain generates creative forces. An illness triggered fervent creativity in my mother. The trauma following her il ...
Sheli Lehadpasa (Mine for printing) Art constitutes a tool for contending with difficult psychological situations. A situation of loss and pain generates creative forces. An illness triggered fervent creativity in my mother. The trauma following her il ...