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.

Fax Transmission - Raymond Pettibone and Jason Rhoades

The lmprobable Flow - Larry Bell

Prima del 73 - Fabio Mauri

Project pour le parc de sculpture de Vassiviére - Paul-Armand Gette

Tower Cranes, Paris  - Tadashi Kawamata

NON REALIZED PROJECTS - Christo and Jeanne-Claude

Eislandschaft - P. Fischli und D. Weiss

Proposal for a permanent video installation for the NYC headquarters of Sony Corporation - Dara Birnbaum

The World is a Theater and we each have a role - Louise Bourgeois

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
W3864
19.05.2011
Nova Jiang
WWW
A rejected finalist proposal for a public sculpture designed by the public online. Each online participant determines the shape of a sculptural element, which can be assembled by visitors to the park. ...
A rejected finalist proposal for a public sculpture designed by the public online. Each online participant determines the shape of a sculptural element, which can be assembled by visitors to the park. ...
U9492
01.01.1996
"Ileana, I love you" - Maurizo Cattelan
Unbuilt Roads
1996 progetto "ilana, I love you" per la galleria Stefano Basilico di New York. Molte persone che conoscono Stefano Basilica per la sua galleria, conoscono anche che Stefano e' stato collaboratore per circa dieci anni alla galleria Sonnabend. Questo ...
1996 progetto "ilana, I love you" per la galleria Stefano Basilico di New York. Molte persone che conoscono Stefano Basilica per la sua galleria, conoscono anche che Stefano e' stato collaboratore per circa dieci anni alla galleria Sonnabend. Questo ...
W5423
20.10.2012
Summerhouse - Tom Hollenback
WWW
Summerhouse ©Tom Hollenback, 2011 (Revised) This proposal is for the construction of a temporary outdoor installation during the winter months at a public park in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Tentatively titled Summerhouse, I envision the work as a small p ...
Summerhouse ©Tom Hollenback, 2011 (Revised) This proposal is for the construction of a temporary outdoor installation during the winter months at a public park in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Tentatively titled Summerhouse, I envision the work as a small p ...
W3593
13.05.2011
VINE PEOPLE ARE NOT TERRORISTS - Dyan Marie
WWW
News reports claim my actions are that of an environmental terrorist organization: that we have unleashed a harmful toxin in the halls of power throughout the North America. ...
News reports claim my actions are that of an environmental terrorist organization: that we have unleashed a harmful toxin in the halls of power throughout the North America. ...
W5422
20.10.2012
ŻAK BRANICKA FOUNDATION - Szymon Kobylarz
WWW
“Agency of Unrealized Projects” Szymon Kobylarz (Polen) ŻAK BRANICKA FOUNDATION DEUTSCH Bild 1. Das 1. Bild zeigt eine nicht-­‐realisierte, ortspezifische Installation in einer Galerie. Der Besucher eines mit Büchern vollgestopften Raum ...
“Agency of Unrealized Projects” Szymon Kobylarz (Polen) ŻAK BRANICKA FOUNDATION DEUTSCH Bild 1. Das 1. Bild zeigt eine nicht-­‐realisierte, ortspezifische Installation in einer Galerie. Der Besucher eines mit Büchern vollgestopften Raum ...
W10455
24.04.2014
Three Little Words - Allison Malinsky
WWW
Three Little Words started my work with visual language. This series contains my colorful gouache drawings of engagement diamonds accompanied by three words in black cursive text. I painted the most symbolic engagement diamonds from Tiffany's and Cartie ...
Three Little Words started my work with visual language. This series contains my colorful gouache drawings of engagement diamonds accompanied by three words in black cursive text. I painted the most symbolic engagement diamonds from Tiffany's and Cartie ...
W3675
15.05.2011
OmniPhantasmic* - Neil Craver
WWW
OmniPhantasmic* *Omni-             1. A combining form denoting all, every, everywhere; as in omnipotent, all-powerful; omnipresent; omnivorous.  *Phantasmic-          1. Something apparently s ...
OmniPhantasmic* *Omni-             1. A combining form denoting all, every, everywhere; as in omnipotent, all-powerful; omnipresent; omnivorous.  *Phantasmic-          1. Something apparently s ...
W5454
20.10.2012
UNTITLED - Sonia Foder
WWW
UNTITLED It was supposed to be a long-term project. I dreamed about it for long time. Portrait photography is one of the biggest challenges in photography. Photographers identity and relational dynamics between photographer and model are crucial. Por ...
UNTITLED It was supposed to be a long-term project. I dreamed about it for long time. Portrait photography is one of the biggest challenges in photography. Photographers identity and relational dynamics between photographer and model are crucial. Por ...
W3645
15.05.2011
Provincetown, Cape Cod, MA USA. 2006 - Jay Critchley
WWW
Provincetown, Cape Cod, MA USA. 2006 Martucket Eyeland Resort & Theme Park Following on the heels of the controversial industrial wind farm proposed for Nantucket Sound, a dramatic “third eyeland” resort and theme park has been proposed for the ...
Provincetown, Cape Cod, MA USA. 2006 Martucket Eyeland Resort & Theme Park Following on the heels of the controversial industrial wind farm proposed for Nantucket Sound, a dramatic “third eyeland” resort and theme park has been proposed for the ...
W4544
25.05.2011
BOOTSCHAFT - Sabine Kacunko
WWW
BOOTSCHAFT germ-(cell) F2 Medieninstallation National Center for Performing Arts (NCPA) BOOTSCHAFT germ-(cell) F2 Konzept BOOTSCHAFT ist ein multimedial und global angelegtes Projekt, das Objekte im öffent- lichen Raum mit einem besonderen kulturellen od ...
BOOTSCHAFT germ-(cell) F2 Medieninstallation National Center for Performing Arts (NCPA) BOOTSCHAFT germ-(cell) F2 Konzept BOOTSCHAFT ist ein multimedial und global angelegtes Projekt, das Objekte im öffent- lichen Raum mit einem besonderen kulturellen od ...
W4432
25.05.2011
Name just add artist
WWW
Name: just add artist Numero 0 – Patrick Tuttofuoco Project of a collection of books 2003 Concept and editorial direction: Chiara Parisi Art Direction: Paola Manfrin Copywriting: Dario Villa This project unrealized of a collection of books in ...
Name: just add artist Numero 0 – Patrick Tuttofuoco Project of a collection of books 2003 Concept and editorial direction: Chiara Parisi Art Direction: Paola Manfrin Copywriting: Dario Villa This project unrealized of a collection of books in ...
W4865
09.08.2012
Advanced Public Tenement - Heman Chong & Anthony Marcellini
WWW
Advanced Public Tenement (APT) is project examining the future of low-income public housing programs developed by governments with rising population growth, used to house guest workers, displaced residents, or recent immigrants. This project will be guide ...
Advanced Public Tenement (APT) is project examining the future of low-income public housing programs developed by governments with rising population growth, used to house guest workers, displaced residents, or recent immigrants. This project will be guide ...
U9858
01.01.1995
"400" - Manfred Pernice
Unbuilt Roads
1995-96 Weile bestand ein Zusammenhang. eng. [unleserlich] ihn nicht gesucht. Möglichkeiten nahm er nicht wahr. Das Sockel (1) ergibt 11-fach vervielfältigt, Modell einer grosser Wohn- und Geschäftsanlag; [M?]aßtab 1:100, welches im Ausstellung ...
1995-96 Weile bestand ein Zusammenhang. eng. [unleserlich] ihn nicht gesucht. Möglichkeiten nahm er nicht wahr. Das Sockel (1) ergibt 11-fach vervielfältigt, Modell einer grosser Wohn- und Geschäftsanlag; [M?]aßtab 1:100, welches im Ausstellung ...
W5358
19.10.2012
Tweetwalk Marathon - Alban Low
WWW
The Olympics are outdated and not suited to our modern lives. We need a new breed of sports to prepare our children for the rigors of multitasking in a social media astute world. Join us on the first ever tweetwalk marathon. Warm those fingers and thumbs ...
The Olympics are outdated and not suited to our modern lives. We need a new breed of sports to prepare our children for the rigors of multitasking in a social media astute world. Join us on the first ever tweetwalk marathon. Warm those fingers and thumbs ...
W5305
17.10.2012
Otherhedron - Lucy Pullen, Carolina Trigo
WWW
“Otherhedron is a trip. From pole to pole, the object moves around the world like a pebble rolling gently on the ground. Demarcating locations as nodes or points in the globe that, when joined, trace a plane much like one of the sides of Otherhedron." ...
“Otherhedron is a trip. From pole to pole, the object moves around the world like a pebble rolling gently on the ground. Demarcating locations as nodes or points in the globe that, when joined, trace a plane much like one of the sides of Otherhedron." ...
W3676
15.05.2011
THE DIARY OF SAMUEL PEPYS, ESQ., F.R.S. FROM 1659 TO 1669 WITH MEMOIR - Press this (The Rsnn Show)
WWW
PREFACE TO THE PRESENT EDITION. The Celebrated work here presented to the public under peculiar advantages may require a few introductory remarks. By the publication, during the last half century, of autobiographies, Diaries, and Records of Personal ...
PREFACE TO THE PRESENT EDITION. The Celebrated work here presented to the public under peculiar advantages may require a few introductory remarks. By the publication, during the last half century, of autobiographies, Diaries, and Records of Personal ...
W4025
22.05.2011
Guardians of Art  - Holly Crawford
WWW
Proposal: Inside Standing/Conversations with the Guardians of Art Proposed to the Tate Modern, sent to Ben B. I meet and discussed this and screening of Critical Conversations in a Limo. Guardians of Art Museum guards are the human face ...
Proposal: Inside Standing/Conversations with the Guardians of Art Proposed to the Tate Modern, sent to Ben B. I meet and discussed this and screening of Critical Conversations in a Limo. Guardians of Art Museum guards are the human face ...
W5124
18.09.2012
Leaching The Grease Out Of A Cheese Pyramid - Michael Arata
WWW
"Leaching The Grease Out Of A Cheese Pyramid" 1991-2012 The project (1991) consisted of ten pounds of white cheddar cheese carved into the shape of a stepped pyramid. The pyramid was placed on a 30 inch stack of newspapers bound together with braide ...
"Leaching The Grease Out Of A Cheese Pyramid" 1991-2012 The project (1991) consisted of ten pounds of white cheddar cheese carved into the shape of a stepped pyramid. The pyramid was placed on a 30 inch stack of newspapers bound together with braide ...
W5471
21.10.2012
La Gioconda Project - Gabor Ösz
WWW
Introduction A few years ago, when I first visited the Louvre, I was surprised to see that the signposts giving directions for the painting La Gioconda already started at the gates. As I was to learn later, there exists a form of cultural pilgrimage t ...
Introduction A few years ago, when I first visited the Louvre, I was surprised to see that the signposts giving directions for the painting La Gioconda already started at the gates. As I was to learn later, there exists a form of cultural pilgrimage t ...
W5353
19.10.2012
THE STORY OF THE WRONG PRAYER BOOK - Vera Gutkina
WWW
THE STORY OF THE WRONG PRAYER BOOK (frescoes at the Chirch of Holy Mary) Some twenty km north of Jerusalem a picturesque Arab town nestles in between the green Judea hills. It is called Abu Gosh after its founders the Abugosh family. They were Muslim. ...
THE STORY OF THE WRONG PRAYER BOOK (frescoes at the Chirch of Holy Mary) Some twenty km north of Jerusalem a picturesque Arab town nestles in between the green Judea hills. It is called Abu Gosh after its founders the Abugosh family. They were Muslim. ...
W4678
26.05.2011
Two Propositions for Participation and One Prognostication  - Mel Chin
WWW
Two Propositions for Participation and One Prognostication (One Page of) Preparatory Notes: Ask the least, so the most can be included. As a scriptor, conceive parts the performers (the participants) can easily follow yet allow them to understand how th ...
Two Propositions for Participation and One Prognostication (One Page of) Preparatory Notes: Ask the least, so the most can be included. As a scriptor, conceive parts the performers (the participants) can easily follow yet allow them to understand how th ...
W5269
13.10.2012
The Politics of the Divine–Thangka numérique - Nu'a Bön
WWW
"The Politics of the Divine–Thangka numérique". Bikiki Atoll 1946 Thangka numérique (2009); Aotearoa 2009 Thangka numérique (2009). Visual ruminations on the agency and agendas of critical thinking in art, buddhist teachings, and digital technology ...
"The Politics of the Divine–Thangka numérique". Bikiki Atoll 1946 Thangka numérique (2009); Aotearoa 2009 Thangka numérique (2009). Visual ruminations on the agency and agendas of critical thinking in art, buddhist teachings, and digital technology ...
W5424
20.10.2012
THE DIFFICULT INTERPRETATION OF PHOTOGRAPHIC REALITY - Ulrich Bocker
WWW
THE DIFFICULT INTERPRETATION OF PHOTOGRAPHIC REALITY For the innocent photography is the most obvious form of visual communication in the world. The pictured situation seems clear at first sight until we read the title or the legend underneath. An opt ...
THE DIFFICULT INTERPRETATION OF PHOTOGRAPHIC REALITY For the innocent photography is the most obvious form of visual communication in the world. The pictured situation seems clear at first sight until we read the title or the legend underneath. An opt ...
W5100
13.09.2012
je vois passer les roses - Copa & Sordes
WWW
One more idea for ornaments in public space and in private life. See PDF ...
One more idea for ornaments in public space and in private life. See PDF ...
W4483
25.05.2011
Transformation #2 - Samuel Levack and Jennifer Lewandowski
WWW
Transformation #2 2003 Mixed media installation Dimension variable A sculptural installation created as a partial remake of the film 'The Big Blue' (1988). Made up of an assemblage of collected, found and fabricated objects, including hundreds of sh ...
Transformation #2 2003 Mixed media installation Dimension variable A sculptural installation created as a partial remake of the film 'The Big Blue' (1988). Made up of an assemblage of collected, found and fabricated objects, including hundreds of sh ...
W4091
23.05.2011
UNREALIZEABLE PROJECT A000002 - Stefano W. Pasquini
WWW
UNREALIZEABLE PROJECT A000002: a found photo gets printed as big as a building. Please note that the bad quality of the files is due to the fact that scanners had a very low quality in 1994. You may see the whole series on http://stefanopasquini.net/con ...
UNREALIZEABLE PROJECT A000002: a found photo gets printed as big as a building. Please note that the bad quality of the files is due to the fact that scanners had a very low quality in 1994. You may see the whole series on http://stefanopasquini.net/con ...