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.

Projet pour la Place Saint Léger à Chambery  - Erik Dietman

Monument to Democracy - Kounellis

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

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

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

Project for the Initiative Mahnmal Homosexuellenverfolgung, Frankfurt  - Jeff Wall

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

Engel-Detektor - Jakob Gautel & Jason Karaïndros

Battery Park City - Per Kirkeby

Notebook Page: Home in the Form of a Banana with Garage,  - Claes Oldenburg

Agency of Unrealised Projects
Logo by Liam Gillick
#
Date
Title
Source
Description
Tags
U9517
01.01.1990
<A Public Misery Message> - Critical Art Ensemble
Unbuilt Roads
A Public Misery Message, was designed as temporary public art for a US city. The Reagan/Bush era was coming to a close, and the financial restructuring of the classes was complete: The top wealth holders in America controlled more wealth than at any previ ...
A Public Misery Message, was designed as temporary public art for a US city. The Reagan/Bush era was coming to a close, and the financial restructuring of the classes was complete: The top wealth holders in America controlled more wealth than at any previ ...
W5240
09.10.2012
Stephanie Douet
WWW
Imagine a long, long, long rectangle, rolled up into the smallest tube. Take the end of the rectangle and begin to unfurl it. As it peels open, three small rectangles cut randomly into its surface swing open, at random angles. With no effort of arrangemen ...
Imagine a long, long, long rectangle, rolled up into the smallest tube. Take the end of the rectangle and begin to unfurl it. As it peels open, three small rectangles cut randomly into its surface swing open, at random angles. With no effort of arrangemen ...
W4366
25.05.2011
Romain di Vozzo
WWW
The < Krack project > is a public art installation ( 220 s.m) which was conceived to compete with the Imperialist system on the production processes of realities. It was designed so as to mobilize the civil society around socio environmental stakes ...
The < Krack project > is a public art installation ( 220 s.m) which was conceived to compete with the Imperialist system on the production processes of realities. It was designed so as to mobilize the civil society around socio environmental stakes ...
W4026
22.05.2011
Lucia Cullinane Garcia
WWW
Paintings made with mainly acrylics and mix media, such a 3d effects on them. Stunning to look at and very provocative. Public in general love them and they always attract loads of attention. Different, unique and original they have been descrived. Lu ...
Paintings made with mainly acrylics and mix media, such a 3d effects on them. Stunning to look at and very provocative. Public in general love them and they always attract loads of attention. Different, unique and original they have been descrived. Lu ...
W5188
30.09.2012
‘Waiting for the Sunrise’ (To follow the light) - Betty Nigianni
WWW
‘Waiting for the Sunrise’ (To follow the light) - - Performance, digital photography, digital video, sculpture, varied dimensions (2011) Undertaken as a means for research, walking journeys in the city allowed for emerging themes, such as pilgrim ...
‘Waiting for the Sunrise’ (To follow the light) - - Performance, digital photography, digital video, sculpture, varied dimensions (2011) Undertaken as a means for research, walking journeys in the city allowed for emerging themes, such as pilgrim ...
W3757
18.05.2011
hotel de la gloria - Ivo Bonacorsi
WWW
hotel de la gloria an hotel &resort for artists ...
hotel de la gloria an hotel &resort for artists ...
W3899
20.05.2011
SIN TITULO - Daniela Huerta
WWW
SIN TITULO Nails, wall, dust and red thread. Dimensions variable 2010 This is a project that perhaps was never intended to be realized. It was rather an action and a documentation of it. The beginning and the end is the wall, as it works as a state ...
SIN TITULO Nails, wall, dust and red thread. Dimensions variable 2010 This is a project that perhaps was never intended to be realized. It was rather an action and a documentation of it. The beginning and the end is the wall, as it works as a state ...
W5085
09.09.2012
The Great Public Sale of unrealized but brilliant Ideas - Prinz Gholam
WWW
In 2008 we made a collage which was a sketch to a deeper longing to create a performance in and for the Kamihohikawa studio of Kazuo Ohno. It was built by Ohno to create and practice his work. In 2010 Sarah Vanhee approached us to take part in her project ...
In 2008 we made a collage which was a sketch to a deeper longing to create a performance in and for the Kamihohikawa studio of Kazuo Ohno. It was built by Ohno to create and practice his work. In 2010 Sarah Vanhee approached us to take part in her project ...
W5030
31.08.2012
Spectral Horse - Mags Harries & Lajos Heder
WWW
Mags Harries & Lajos Héder Spectral Horse Location: Spectacle Island, Boston Harbor, MA (Proposal 2006) Size: 400’ x 250’ Materials: Lighting and light reflective materials Description: Spectacle Island lies in a very prominent position in Bost ...
Mags Harries & Lajos Héder Spectral Horse Location: Spectacle Island, Boston Harbor, MA (Proposal 2006) Size: 400’ x 250’ Materials: Lighting and light reflective materials Description: Spectacle Island lies in a very prominent position in Bost ...
W3931
20.05.2011
Random Identity Forum (“RIF”) - ANNA LASCARI
WWW
The “Identity Flag” can be reviewed at: www.annalascari.net/RIF Project Description “RIF” (Random Identity Forum) is an interactive installation that allows users to participate in and comment on the political and socio-economic policie ...
The “Identity Flag” can be reviewed at: www.annalascari.net/RIF Project Description “RIF” (Random Identity Forum) is an interactive installation that allows users to participate in and comment on the political and socio-economic policie ...
W5486
24.10.2012
Top Ten Words I Am Sick of Seeing on Artists Statements - Andrea Liu
WWW
liminal space “in its final iteration” itinerant practice “rupture” or “suture” post-Fordism the performative dimension of language seeks to negotiate the tension between X and Y seeks to problemati ...
liminal space “in its final iteration” itinerant practice “rupture” or “suture” post-Fordism the performative dimension of language seeks to negotiate the tension between X and Y seeks to problemati ...
W5170
26.09.2012
Jessica Li
WWW
An online database of all the words I know and all the words I think I know along with their respective pronunciations, definitions, and usages. This collection would house all words in all the languages I think I know and be organized by the chronologica ...
An online database of all the words I know and all the words I think I know along with their respective pronunciations, definitions, and usages. This collection would house all words in all the languages I think I know and be organized by the chronologica ...
W5468
21.10.2012
Sweet Auburn Multiscape - Alex Kerr
WWW
This contains a proposal for the Sweet Auburn Multiscape. It is a steel sculpture that mimics the skyline seen in the Sweet Auburn district in Atlanta over 40 years ago. The purpose of this piece is to reactivate the neglected neighborhood by calling atte ...
This contains a proposal for the Sweet Auburn Multiscape. It is a steel sculpture that mimics the skyline seen in the Sweet Auburn district in Atlanta over 40 years ago. The purpose of this piece is to reactivate the neglected neighborhood by calling atte ...
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 ...
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. ...
W4513
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 ...
W4367
25.05.2011
Trace  - Thessia Machado
WWW
Trace An interactive installation that allows the viewers to be part of a collaboration with previous visitors and the architecture of the exhibition space. A continuous record of people’s motion through space that engenders dynamic drawings and sound ...
Trace An interactive installation that allows the viewers to be part of a collaboration with previous visitors and the architecture of the exhibition space. A continuous record of people’s motion through space that engenders dynamic drawings and sound ...
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. ...
W4880
09.08.2012
Thistlegarden Project - Rob Voerman
WWW
Thistlegarden-project My plan is to create a garden consisting of only of wild thistles. Sown, but mainly re-planted from the wild in early spring, they will be placed in lines and patterns. The overall form will be a grafic representation of an explosi ...
Thistlegarden-project My plan is to create a garden consisting of only of wild thistles. Sown, but mainly re-planted from the wild in early spring, they will be placed in lines and patterns. The overall form will be a grafic representation of an explosi ...
W4365
25.05.2011
THE KRACK PROJECT - Travis Wyche
WWW
THE KRACK PROJECT by DI VOZZO S.A.S The < Krack project > is a public art installation ( 220 s.m) which was conceived to compete with the Imperialist system on the production processes of realities. I designed this project so as to mobilize the ...
THE KRACK PROJECT by DI VOZZO S.A.S The < Krack project > is a public art installation ( 220 s.m) which was conceived to compete with the Imperialist system on the production processes of realities. I designed this project so as to mobilize the ...
W5461
21.10.2012
Living DNA - Nobuho Nagasawa
WWW
Project for UCLA Hospital, Los Angeles, California © Nobuho Nagasawa Concept: All living things contain DNA. The main role of DNA in the cell is the storage of information. It is often compared to a blueprint, since it contains the instructions ...
Project for UCLA Hospital, Los Angeles, California © Nobuho Nagasawa Concept: All living things contain DNA. The main role of DNA in the cell is the storage of information. It is often compared to a blueprint, since it contains the instructions ...
W4080
23.05.2011
Photorécepteurs - Kasia Ozga
WWW
Description du Projet – Photorécepteurs Pour le projet participatif, Photorécepteurs, je souhaite travailler sur des images en grand format des yeux des habitants de la Ville de _________. Un photorécepteur peut désigner un neurone sensoriel sens ...
Description du Projet – Photorécepteurs Pour le projet participatif, Photorécepteurs, je souhaite travailler sur des images en grand format des yeux des habitants de la Ville de _________. Un photorécepteur peut désigner un neurone sensoriel sens ...
W5057
03.09.2012
Sheltered Apartments in Buztintxuri  - Taller Basico de Arquitectura [TBA]
WWW
Sheltered Apartments in Buztintxuri (2009) We understand the site as an opportunity to inhabit a space that ends in a dividing wall, and so, an uncompleted space. From this wall, we build a bone that links the existing buildings with the new project an ...
Sheltered Apartments in Buztintxuri (2009) We understand the site as an opportunity to inhabit a space that ends in a dividing wall, and so, an uncompleted space. From this wall, we build a bone that links the existing buildings with the new project an ...
W4859
08.08.2012
Madness. Alice plays hopscotch - Ula Lewicka
WWW
a project for the exhibition, about Alice in the Wonderland and idea of cutting heads, "Madness - Alice plays hopscotch". draft only: Exhibition Title : Madness. Alice plays hopscotch Time- One week. As the Mad Hatter we won't be killing time. Artis ...
a project for the exhibition, about Alice in the Wonderland and idea of cutting heads, "Madness - Alice plays hopscotch". draft only: Exhibition Title : Madness. Alice plays hopscotch Time- One week. As the Mad Hatter we won't be killing time. Artis ...
W4837
08.08.2012
Museum Eddy Roos - Eddy Roos
WWW
W4239
24.05.2011
OXYGEN - Peter Boyadjieff
WWW
Today our metropolitan networks require more and more physical space for their residual infrastructure and paradoxically seem to leave less and less legroom for urban appropriation by their occupants. Rather than being subjugated to it, the supremacy of t ...
Today our metropolitan networks require more and more physical space for their residual infrastructure and paradoxically seem to leave less and less legroom for urban appropriation by their occupants. Rather than being subjugated to it, the supremacy of t ...