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.

Project 1 + Project 2 - Simryn Gill

Monument with Rust - Gustav Metzger

Post Photographic apparatus - Steven Pippin

PROPOSAL FOR SEATTLE ARTS COMMISSION, IN PUBLIC - Chris Burden

The Clock - Ayse Erkmen

Electronic Theater - Laurie Anderson

Ruderaltisch, 1994/95 Kunst am Bau - Projekt - Lois Weinberger

A FAIRLY TALL TOWER, 48,000 Miles High -  - Siah Armajani

PROJECT FOR A COMMUNITY CENTER, AVENUE DES NARCISSES, CHENOVE - Vito Acconci

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

Agency of Unrealised Projects
Logo by Liam Gillick
#
Date
Title
Source
Description
Tags
W3497
11.05.2011
Labyrinths - Ruben Gutierrez
WWW
Life Size Mazes to be displayed in a public area. Structures where our demons can be confronted and overcome http://www.rubengutierrez.net/project/13-labyrinths ...
Life Size Mazes to be displayed in a public area. Structures where our demons can be confronted and overcome http://www.rubengutierrez.net/project/13-labyrinths ...
W4371
25.05.2011
leak - Thessia Machado
WWW
leak A rumination on transmutation, language, the experience of time, death and the joys of apartment living. Installation with 12.5 gallons of water (equivalent to my weight), vinyl, sheetrock, camera, computer running max/msp/jitter, monitor and ...
leak A rumination on transmutation, language, the experience of time, death and the joys of apartment living. Installation with 12.5 gallons of water (equivalent to my weight), vinyl, sheetrock, camera, computer running max/msp/jitter, monitor and ...
W4692
26.05.2011
Arachne - Miranda Leigh
WWW
"Arachne" 2001-present 50 x 11 x 60 inches Bull penis, Ingas wood, fulgurite, titanium, aluminum, brass, enamels, and artist's hair "Arachne" is an allegorical portrait of the intense struggle between pride and humility, courage and fear, that nearl ...
"Arachne" 2001-present 50 x 11 x 60 inches Bull penis, Ingas wood, fulgurite, titanium, aluminum, brass, enamels, and artist's hair "Arachne" is an allegorical portrait of the intense struggle between pride and humility, courage and fear, that nearl ...
W5200
03.10.2012
The plan of scientific work « Russian branch Mecklenburg - Strelitz family. Russia - Germany. Sight of the artist of XXI century. » - Yuri Wassiliew
WWW
Wassiliew J.A., dozent of drawing department in A.I.Gertzen Russian State Pedagogical University, Sankt Petersburg, Russia. The plan of scientific work « Russian branch Mecklenburg - Strelitz family. Russia - Germany. Sight of the art ...
Wassiliew J.A., dozent of drawing department in A.I.Gertzen Russian State Pedagogical University, Sankt Petersburg, Russia. The plan of scientific work « Russian branch Mecklenburg - Strelitz family. Russia - Germany. Sight of the art ...
W4878
09.08.2012
Breathless - Peter Grzybowski
WWW
Breathless Performance art by AWACS Group from 1980 - 1987 Project objective: - introduction of work by AWACS Group - AWACS and its place in history of Polish performance art - emphasizing of the political aspect of the Group's activity during the Ma ...
Breathless Performance art by AWACS Group from 1980 - 1987 Project objective: - introduction of work by AWACS Group - AWACS and its place in history of Polish performance art - emphasizing of the political aspect of the Group's activity during the Ma ...
U9591
01.01.1987
The World Record - General Idea
Unbuilt Roads
A commission for the SkyDome sports stadium in Toronto, Canada. "General Idea's World Record takes the form of an Illuminated sign suspended overhead and running for the complete circumference of the SkyDome's circular interior street. It will display ...
A commission for the SkyDome sports stadium in Toronto, Canada. "General Idea's World Record takes the form of an Illuminated sign suspended overhead and running for the complete circumference of the SkyDome's circular interior street. It will display ...
W4313
24.05.2011
Unreal cities  - Emilio Said (Mexico City)
WWW
Emilio Said Unreal cities Informal architecture zone The diverse social dynamics that gather in the public field generate mechanic interactions to shape bonds between the city and who transit in it. By this way, Said´s work is integrated in ...
Emilio Said Unreal cities Informal architecture zone The diverse social dynamics that gather in the public field generate mechanic interactions to shape bonds between the city and who transit in it. By this way, Said´s work is integrated in ...
W5175
26.09.2012
Action Office III - Geissler Sann
WWW
Action Office III The first cubicles were designed in 1967 by Robert Propst. The purpose was to give the workers more privacy, to isolate them from sights and noises of an open workspace. Probst consulted for his research mathematicians, behavioral psych ...
Action Office III The first cubicles were designed in 1967 by Robert Propst. The purpose was to give the workers more privacy, to isolate them from sights and noises of an open workspace. Probst consulted for his research mathematicians, behavioral psych ...
W4823
07.08.2012
Outstretched Arms - Todd Williamson
WWW
"Outstretched Arms" is a project that was originally conceived in 2009 for a university show. It features a 4ft diameter hanging painting that slowly rotates with the air currents. It also features a 10 minute commissioned work of music that supports ...
"Outstretched Arms" is a project that was originally conceived in 2009 for a university show. It features a 4ft diameter hanging painting that slowly rotates with the air currents. It also features a 10 minute commissioned work of music that supports ...
W3521
11.05.2011
Booming Bratislava - PJ Bruyniks
WWW
Booming Bratislava (= working title) or Make Hot Spots instead of Cold War A combination of an art project, road movie, art scouting, crash course and hype-setting. But also the start of a network of art sister cities (art town twinning). Th ...
Booming Bratislava (= working title) or Make Hot Spots instead of Cold War A combination of an art project, road movie, art scouting, crash course and hype-setting. But also the start of a network of art sister cities (art town twinning). Th ...
W4816
07.08.2012
Photographs of Common Objects - Bradley Olson
WWW
For the series of black and white still life’s, Photographs of Common Objects, I used a 4” x 5” view camera to capture in fine detail, the form and surface of relics from daily life. Among them - adding machines, ceramic, glass, and plastic cups, ki ...
For the series of black and white still life’s, Photographs of Common Objects, I used a 4” x 5” view camera to capture in fine detail, the form and surface of relics from daily life. Among them - adding machines, ceramic, glass, and plastic cups, ki ...
W4177
24.05.2011
"Let the Seasons Begin" - Steven Beckly
WWW
"Let the Seasons Begin" is a series of performance-based images inspired by a recurring dream character with anthropomorphic elephant features. In my dreams, this character existed in isolation from tangible surroundings and environments. ...
"Let the Seasons Begin" is a series of performance-based images inspired by a recurring dream character with anthropomorphic elephant features. In my dreams, this character existed in isolation from tangible surroundings and environments. ...
W4156
23.05.2011
Craig Havens
WWW
From August 2009 to January 2010, I employed the spirit of Elvis Presely as the PR Director of a Limited Liability Company which I created to represent my groin to those people who were no longer welcome in my life. ...
From August 2009 to January 2010, I employed the spirit of Elvis Presely as the PR Director of a Limited Liability Company which I created to represent my groin to those people who were no longer welcome in my life. ...
W4272
24.05.2011
Kristin Jones / Andrew Ginzel
WWW
Proposals for Hudson River Park New York 1997 ...
Proposals for Hudson River Park New York 1997 ...
U9811
01.01.1960
Monument with Rust - Gustav Metzger
Unbuilt Roads
three projects about which I have been thinking for some time. The first construction is to be about 18 feet high with a base about 24 ft. by 18 ft. The principle of this technique was suggested by Mr. E. LI. Evans, who worked in the corrosion of meta ...
three projects about which I have been thinking for some time. The first construction is to be about 18 feet high with a base about 24 ft. by 18 ft. The principle of this technique was suggested by Mr. E. LI. Evans, who worked in the corrosion of meta ...
W4738
26.05.2011
Boxing Meese - Nadja Verena Marcin
WWW
Boxing Meese _ Nadja Verena Marcin _ 2006 This poster with the written information, see below, was papered all over the Auguststrasse in Berlin-Mitte in 2006. Du bist angeklagt! Du hast Herrn Blum beleidigt! Herr Blum ist unschuldig!... Gesicht zeige ...
Boxing Meese _ Nadja Verena Marcin _ 2006 This poster with the written information, see below, was papered all over the Auguststrasse in Berlin-Mitte in 2006. Du bist angeklagt! Du hast Herrn Blum beleidigt! Herr Blum ist unschuldig!... Gesicht zeige ...
W5896
18.10.2013
Golf course - Matthijs Muller
WWW
Golf courses are artificial landscapes with artificial hills and small artificial sand dunes. Now imagine a golf course (in the Netherlands, in the meadows), without those artificial hills and the small sand dunes replaced by metal versions on poles to pu ...
Golf courses are artificial landscapes with artificial hills and small artificial sand dunes. Now imagine a golf course (in the Netherlands, in the meadows), without those artificial hills and the small sand dunes replaced by metal versions on poles to pu ...
W5060
03.09.2012
Indoor swiming pool competition - Rodrigo Lima Arquitecto
WWW
Indoor swiming pool competition. A water surface, running along a curve shaped hangar, ends in a water fall. The water surface contains 4 swimming pools, each one dedicated to a different type of water activity. (Sports or Play) ...
Indoor swiming pool competition. A water surface, running along a curve shaped hangar, ends in a water fall. The water surface contains 4 swimming pools, each one dedicated to a different type of water activity. (Sports or Play) ...
W5070
05.09.2012
Unterirdischer Birkenwald / Subterranean Birch Forest - Römer + Römer
WWW
Unterirdischer Birkenwald / Subterranean Birch Forest Unrealized: Land Art Project Realized: Print of Wallpaper (1.80 m x 150 m) RÖMER + RÖMER, 2005 „Unterirdischer Birkenwald”
 Als Landartprojekt planten RÖMER & RÖMER den Bau eines Deich ...
Unterirdischer Birkenwald / Subterranean Birch Forest Unrealized: Land Art Project Realized: Print of Wallpaper (1.80 m x 150 m) RÖMER + RÖMER, 2005 „Unterirdischer Birkenwald”
 Als Landartprojekt planten RÖMER & RÖMER den Bau eines Deich ...
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 ...
W4383
25.05.2011
Lunch - Tra Bouscaren
WWW
Tra Bouscaren: Lunch For the "Lunch" project, I propose to cut off a piece of my own ass and have it grown in a laboratory until it reaches some kind of meal-like proportions, and then eat it as a performance. In addition, I would like to to make ...
Tra Bouscaren: Lunch For the "Lunch" project, I propose to cut off a piece of my own ass and have it grown in a laboratory until it reaches some kind of meal-like proportions, and then eat it as a performance. In addition, I would like to to make ...
W4265
24.05.2011
Kristin Jones / Andrew Ginzel
WWW
Project for Hypothetical Pond Sonsbeek Arnheim, The Netherlands 1986 ...
Project for Hypothetical Pond Sonsbeek Arnheim, The Netherlands 1986 ...
W4240
24.05.2011
Josefina Posch
WWW
W3766
18.05.2011
francine LeClercq
WWW
image 1: Exit, local law 26, study for an un-threaded stair. image 2: study for spatial composition of laser levels in exhibition space ...
image 1: Exit, local law 26, study for an un-threaded stair. image 2: study for spatial composition of laser levels in exhibition space ...
W5007
30.08.2012
Berlin Childhood - Julia Brodauf
WWW
The project "Berlin Childhood" was proposed as an exhibition idea to Vattenfall for the Turbinenhalle at the Heizkraftwerk Moabit in combination with an edition. The edition will be realised, the exhibition project not... Und die Mädels mit ihren Rol ...
The project "Berlin Childhood" was proposed as an exhibition idea to Vattenfall for the Turbinenhalle at the Heizkraftwerk Moabit in combination with an edition. The edition will be realised, the exhibition project not... Und die Mädels mit ihren Rol ...
W3951
20.05.2011
DISCOVERY of the GRAND UNIFICATION THEORY, or CHOOSE DETERMINISM - Alyce Santoro
WWW
my unrealized project is an extra-scientific contribution to the GRAND UNIFICATION THEORY in physics. DISCOVERY of the GRAND UNIFICATION THEORY, or CHOOSE DETERMINISM, the Unrealized Project of Alyce Santoro Physicists are working around the cloc ...
my unrealized project is an extra-scientific contribution to the GRAND UNIFICATION THEORY in physics. DISCOVERY of the GRAND UNIFICATION THEORY, or CHOOSE DETERMINISM, the Unrealized Project of Alyce Santoro Physicists are working around the cloc ...