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.

Making for Art - 100 Unsucceeded Presentation - 1995, 1996,  - Yutaka Sone

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

The insurer - Fabrice Hybert

Ceinture - Huang Ping Yong

Passage - Richard Wentworth

Monument to Democracy - Kounellis

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

Tower Cranes, Paris  - Tadashi Kawamata

Attitudine Diplomatica - Hermann Pitz

Project 1 + Project 2 - Simryn Gill

Agency of Unrealised Projects
Logo by Liam Gillick
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Date
Title
Source
Description
Tags
W3971
21.05.2011
Unrealized Public Art Projects - Silvia Martí Marí (Spain)
WWW
Public Art Projects The Listener P.L.S. (“Public Listening Services –mobile unit-”). (“El escuchador. S. M. E. (Servicio Municipal Escuchador -unidad móvil-”). A public art project to provide a public and free mobile service -in the stre ...
Public Art Projects The Listener P.L.S. (“Public Listening Services –mobile unit-”). (“El escuchador. S. M. E. (Servicio Municipal Escuchador -unidad móvil-”). A public art project to provide a public and free mobile service -in the stre ...
W4507
25.05.2011
Second nature – A dystopian view into virtual farming - Aditi Ruiz
WWW
Second nature – A dystopian view into virtual farming There are 80 million urban farmers across the world, but they are farming virtually through social networks. What does this imply for the future of the farm? How is this reshaping our perception o ...
Second nature – A dystopian view into virtual farming There are 80 million urban farmers across the world, but they are farming virtually through social networks. What does this imply for the future of the farm? How is this reshaping our perception o ...
W4455
25.05.2011
"GLOBAL SATELLITE PROJECT" - Joaquim Pereira Eires
WWW
"GLOBAL SATELLITE PROJECT" is een eigen concept waarin satellietbeelden, een snapshot van een bepaalde tijd en omgeving, "horizontaal" worden geïntegreerd in de publieke ruimte van meestal diezelfde omgeving. De digitale basis-satellietbeelden die hiervo ...
"GLOBAL SATELLITE PROJECT" is een eigen concept waarin satellietbeelden, een snapshot van een bepaalde tijd en omgeving, "horizontaal" worden geïntegreerd in de publieke ruimte van meestal diezelfde omgeving. De digitale basis-satellietbeelden die hiervo ...
W4810
07.08.2012
Emily Windon
WWW
Emily Windon The Proposed Work to be developed: Large platforms for viewing digitally projected images: The work utilizes the construction of large viewing platforms that serve to both uplift and isolate the audience. The platforms are made of timber an ...
Emily Windon The Proposed Work to be developed: Large platforms for viewing digitally projected images: The work utilizes the construction of large viewing platforms that serve to both uplift and isolate the audience. The platforms are made of timber an ...
W11076
07.04.2016
Temple of Modern Virtue - Vilja Achté
WWW
My work revolves around the relevance of the intentionally incomplete state as a method of production in art and design practice. The term itself is an adaptation of the Renaissance term ‘non-finito’, which quite literally means ‘not finished’, an ...
My work revolves around the relevance of the intentionally incomplete state as a method of production in art and design practice. The term itself is an adaptation of the Renaissance term ‘non-finito’, which quite literally means ‘not finished’, an ...
W4022
22.05.2011
Holly Crawford
WWW
Performance/Installation, proposed 1997, identity and feminism using popular cultural image of Minnie and Mickey Mouse. Cancelled last minute due to funds). Minnie Mouse and Why is she depressed? Proposal for performance/installation Disney ...
Performance/Installation, proposed 1997, identity and feminism using popular cultural image of Minnie and Mickey Mouse. Cancelled last minute due to funds). Minnie Mouse and Why is she depressed? Proposal for performance/installation Disney ...
W5005
30.08.2012
Hanover House - Peter Friedl
WWW
Peter Friedl, Hanover House, 2003 Proposal for Hanover 5 inkjet prints, 100 x 133 cm each Hanover House (2003) Treehouses are common images and objects of desire for individualism, dropping out, childhood, being in tune with nature, self-determin ...
Peter Friedl, Hanover House, 2003 Proposal for Hanover 5 inkjet prints, 100 x 133 cm each Hanover House (2003) Treehouses are common images and objects of desire for individualism, dropping out, childhood, being in tune with nature, self-determin ...
W3586
13.05.2011
A Starry Minute, 2007 - Katja Aglert
WWW
A Starry Minute proposes to collaborate with building owners in Times Square to turn off all of the commercial signage in the area (41 St. - 50 St. between Broadway and 7th Ave) simultaneously for one minute. A Starry Minute’s specific duration of 60 se ...
A Starry Minute proposes to collaborate with building owners in Times Square to turn off all of the commercial signage in the area (41 St. - 50 St. between Broadway and 7th Ave) simultaneously for one minute. A Starry Minute’s specific duration of 60 se ...
W3963
21.05.2011
LONG DISTANCE RELATIONSHIP - Agnes Bolt
WWW
Long Distance Relationship For the exhibition, I am proposing to run a series of 100ft long connected extension cords powered from my studio (the creative place of production) to the exhibition space 2.2 miles away. The energy it takes to sustain so ...
Long Distance Relationship For the exhibition, I am proposing to run a series of 100ft long connected extension cords powered from my studio (the creative place of production) to the exhibition space 2.2 miles away. The energy it takes to sustain so ...
W4965
21.08.2012
Unrealized/able photography - Ana-Maria Huluban
WWW
Unrealized/able photography Ana-Maria Huluban anamariahuluban.com Photograph - possible to be taken directly: A glass cube with 2m sides, full of clear water. Inside the cube there are mirrors which reflect the surroundings and each other. ...
Unrealized/able photography Ana-Maria Huluban anamariahuluban.com Photograph - possible to be taken directly: A glass cube with 2m sides, full of clear water. Inside the cube there are mirrors which reflect the surroundings and each other. ...
W4553
25.05.2011
Roc Parés
WWW
Self-disassembling Robot: Designing and building a robot which consists of the parts, functions and behaviors strictly necessary to develop its only task: self-disassembly. After its one-and-only performance, this robot will stop working (being) as a cons ...
Self-disassembling Robot: Designing and building a robot which consists of the parts, functions and behaviors strictly necessary to develop its only task: self-disassembly. After its one-and-only performance, this robot will stop working (being) as a cons ...
W5250
10.10.2012
the candy cottage - Marisa Dipaola
WWW
As a child fascinated by storybook worlds, I found the Brothers’ Grimm “Hansel and Gretel” to be one of the most enchanting tales, especially the children’s discovery of the woodland candy cottage. Although built by a witch, as a sculptor, I have ...
As a child fascinated by storybook worlds, I found the Brothers’ Grimm “Hansel and Gretel” to be one of the most enchanting tales, especially the children’s discovery of the woodland candy cottage. Although built by a witch, as a sculptor, I have ...
W4324
24.05.2011
Whisper – Murmur – Howl  - Mitya Nesterov
WWW
Whisper – Murmur – Howl Installation Project Framework It all started a few years ago when I came across several sculptured heads lying down all messy in a back yard of an art college my ex-wife attended, just like scraps of junk. I photograp ...
Whisper – Murmur – Howl Installation Project Framework It all started a few years ago when I came across several sculptured heads lying down all messy in a back yard of an art college my ex-wife attended, just like scraps of junk. I photograp ...
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 ...
W4398
25.05.2011
Lars Bergmann
WWW
a project which are unrealized because of the world financial crisis. ...
a project which are unrealized because of the world financial crisis. ...
W3873
19.05.2011
CHINATOWN RUN - Derek Michael Besant
WWW
Project: CHINATOWN RUN Client: City of Calgary Development Dept. / Canada Date: 2010 Retrofit of elements into existing Centre Street Chinatown District of Calgary Alberta Canada. The idea was to enhance the 3 blocks along Centre Street with t ...
Project: CHINATOWN RUN Client: City of Calgary Development Dept. / Canada Date: 2010 Retrofit of elements into existing Centre Street Chinatown District of Calgary Alberta Canada. The idea was to enhance the 3 blocks along Centre Street with t ...
W5270
13.10.2012
neomad - GrubyPunkt Urban Lab
WWW
TITLE: [neomad] AUTHOR: GrubyPunkt Urban Lab WWW: grubypunkt.tumblr.com Nomadism is the oldest lifestyle of human species. Human has been a nomad for the most part of his history. Mongols, Bedouins, Saamis still move their living space with t ...
TITLE: [neomad] AUTHOR: GrubyPunkt Urban Lab WWW: grubypunkt.tumblr.com Nomadism is the oldest lifestyle of human species. Human has been a nomad for the most part of his history. Mongols, Bedouins, Saamis still move their living space with t ...
U9869
01.01.1997
"Free Space" - Michelangelo Pistoletto
Unbuilt Roads
Large cage of iron rods without any entrance. A tag is fastened, outside, in the middle of each of the four sides, saying "The Free Space". "Free Space" From the book "100 exhibitions in the month of October" 1976; Recipe n. 90 Pistoletto ...
Large cage of iron rods without any entrance. A tag is fastened, outside, in the middle of each of the four sides, saying "The Free Space". "Free Space" From the book "100 exhibitions in the month of October" 1976; Recipe n. 90 Pistoletto ...
W4016
22.05.2011
UNVEIL - Alessandro Rolandi
WWW
action-performance for Caochangdi Village project, spring 2011 1) With the help of several artists and local people from Caochangdi village,the message would be spread around of an artistic action involving the local people 2) After having bought arou ...
action-performance for Caochangdi Village project, spring 2011 1) With the help of several artists and local people from Caochangdi village,the message would be spread around of an artistic action involving the local people 2) After having bought arou ...
W5314
17.10.2012
Panikon deima - Cynthia Reynolds
WWW
An unrealized electrostatic installation Below is part of a detailed proposal prepared for me by an organometallic chemist I contacted via the Internet in 2005 and corresponded with over a two-year period. He had a website expressing a personal interes ...
An unrealized electrostatic installation Below is part of a detailed proposal prepared for me by an organometallic chemist I contacted via the Internet in 2005 and corresponded with over a two-year period. He had a website expressing a personal interes ...
W4391
25.05.2011
Getting Organized - Daniel Yovino
WWW
Getting Organized, 2008 Ink on copy paper with "giant" push pins 6 ft. x 8 ft. Living Productively Using Your Hipster PDA, 2008 Video still from speech 6 minutes Getting Organized is a collection of mind maps created a few months after a move a ...
Getting Organized, 2008 Ink on copy paper with "giant" push pins 6 ft. x 8 ft. Living Productively Using Your Hipster PDA, 2008 Video still from speech 6 minutes Getting Organized is a collection of mind maps created a few months after a move a ...
W4582
25.05.2011
Three Genetic Drifts  - David Brooks
WWW
Three Genetic Drifts wooden boardwalk, pedestrian tree (ficus benjamina or equivalent) anchored in concrete planter, crane and hoisting equipment Dimensions variable [proposal for London parking garage] Boardwalks are user-friendly infrastructures that ...
Three Genetic Drifts wooden boardwalk, pedestrian tree (ficus benjamina or equivalent) anchored in concrete planter, crane and hoisting equipment Dimensions variable [proposal for London parking garage] Boardwalks are user-friendly infrastructures that ...
W3786
18.05.2011
Broadside & Plan For A New American Home: Volumes 5 & 6 in 6 Volume Artist Book Project - Jordan West
WWW
To The Agency Of Unrealized Projects May 18, 2011 Dear Curator, I have submitted two projects for your consideration. These are both Artists' Books that I have not been realized at the present time. They are two in a series of six artists' books ...
To The Agency Of Unrealized Projects May 18, 2011 Dear Curator, I have submitted two projects for your consideration. These are both Artists' Books that I have not been realized at the present time. They are two in a series of six artists' books ...
W5408
20.10.2012
MOTHERS _ project - Tiziana Pers
WWW
MOTHERS _ project by Tiziana Pers ‘Mothers’ is a project composed by a series of photographs and an installation. During the ninth month of my pregnancy, one of the last days, I went into the wood, and I started painting my belly with three. ...
MOTHERS _ project by Tiziana Pers ‘Mothers’ is a project composed by a series of photographs and an installation. During the ninth month of my pregnancy, one of the last days, I went into the wood, and I started painting my belly with three. ...
W4334
24.05.2011
METEORITE AL CONTRARIO (INVERTED METEORITE)  - Davide Bertocchi
WWW
METEORITE AL CONTRARIO (INVERTED METEORITE) - 2011 PROJECT. STONE, SPACE MISSION Courtesy the artist A medium size stone (more or less 50 cm x 50 cm x 50 cm) is sent into space. Like a meteorite but following an opposite trajectory, that is, inste ...
METEORITE AL CONTRARIO (INVERTED METEORITE) - 2011 PROJECT. STONE, SPACE MISSION Courtesy the artist A medium size stone (more or less 50 cm x 50 cm x 50 cm) is sent into space. Like a meteorite but following an opposite trajectory, that is, inste ...
W5349
18.10.2012
Rebecca Harris
WWW
The house skin project was intended to explore the transitory and fragile nature of home. Placing lightweight muslin fabric onto the entire side of a windowless brick wall an indexical print would remain. The project got as far as a trial piece, as seen ...
The house skin project was intended to explore the transitory and fragile nature of home. Placing lightweight muslin fabric onto the entire side of a windowless brick wall an indexical print would remain. The project got as far as a trial piece, as seen ...