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.

Just Before Dawn - David Lamelas

No title, as the project only reached proposal stage - Rikrit Tiravanija

Entwurf für einen erneuerten Malkasten 1992 - 1994 - Ulrike Holthöfer

PROJEKT - Ulrich Rückreim

2 Architecture Towers - Robert Irwin

Chen H.V.O + G.T. - Bertrand Lavier

Tower Cranes, Paris  - Tadashi Kawamata

Eislandschaft - P. Fischli und D. Weiss

Fax Transmission - Raymond Pettibone and Jason Rhoades

Ceinture - Huang Ping Yong

Agency of Unrealised Projects
Logo by Liam Gillick
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Date
Title
Source
Description
Tags
W5010
30.08.2012
Pavillion of Albania - Mimmo Catania
WWW
Mimmo Catania (UAP) -Project for the „1. Pavillion of Albania“ at the 48. Biennale di Venezia, Venice (1999). (Collage on color photocopy, 21x29,7 cm.) The unrealized project for the „1. Pavillion of Albania“ at the 48. Biennale di Venezi ...
Mimmo Catania (UAP) -Project for the „1. Pavillion of Albania“ at the 48. Biennale di Venezia, Venice (1999). (Collage on color photocopy, 21x29,7 cm.) The unrealized project for the „1. Pavillion of Albania“ at the 48. Biennale di Venezi ...
W3536
11.05.2011
Present through the Rearview Mirror - Ali Miharbi
WWW
Present through the Rearview Mirror Ali Miharbi (Nov. 2, 2010) Summary: “Present through the Rearview Mirror” will be a live animation depicting a crowd flowing through a specific public space, based on previously gathered data such as crowd move ...
Present through the Rearview Mirror Ali Miharbi (Nov. 2, 2010) Summary: “Present through the Rearview Mirror” will be a live animation depicting a crowd flowing through a specific public space, based on previously gathered data such as crowd move ...
W3726
17.05.2011
Time Share - Elizabeth Rywelski
WWW
TIME SHARE is a performance and a play on a consumer model within a time share sales experience as seen through basic design principles of the Alternate Reality Game and the basic principles of Consumer Theory. In TIME SHARE we will look at how in an Alte ...
TIME SHARE is a performance and a play on a consumer model within a time share sales experience as seen through basic design principles of the Alternate Reality Game and the basic principles of Consumer Theory. In TIME SHARE we will look at how in an Alte ...
W4305
24.05.2011
BENEATH SAND AND SEA - Holger C. Lönze
WWW
BENEATH SAND AND SEA INTRODUCTION The proposed project is set within the physical and social context of Portobello Beach and intends to bring an aspect of the area’s hidden history back out into the light. It focuses on the historic Portobello Harbo ...
BENEATH SAND AND SEA INTRODUCTION The proposed project is set within the physical and social context of Portobello Beach and intends to bring an aspect of the area’s hidden history back out into the light. It focuses on the historic Portobello Harbo ...
W5027
31.08.2012
The Reverse Grand Tour - Valerio Rocco Orlando
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The Reverse Grand Tour 2012 Inspired by the Grand Tour and the experiments conducted by the philosopher of science Bruno Latour, Valerio Rocco Orlando analyzes how context and relationships influence an artist’s practice in Rome today. In order to ...
The Reverse Grand Tour 2012 Inspired by the Grand Tour and the experiments conducted by the philosopher of science Bruno Latour, Valerio Rocco Orlando analyzes how context and relationships influence an artist’s practice in Rome today. In order to ...
W3508
11.05.2011
Karin Schaefer
WWW
Attached are images of a model for a large scale public work that has not been realized. The making of this work started a few weeks after 911 as I needed to find a way to process and work with the reality of the event. Models have been exhibited in vari ...
Attached are images of a model for a large scale public work that has not been realized. The making of this work started a few weeks after 911 as I needed to find a way to process and work with the reality of the event. Models have been exhibited in vari ...
W3988
21.05.2011
Decodification of the rituals mapping of hitchhikers to fish auction market, havana - Carolyn Leung
WWW
An architectural provocation of the Socialistic country, Cuba. Research started from hitchhiking in Havana, mapping of the behaviors of individuals. With self-interpretation and experience leads to a speculative design of a Fish Auction Market in Havana. ...
An architectural provocation of the Socialistic country, Cuba. Research started from hitchhiking in Havana, mapping of the behaviors of individuals. With self-interpretation and experience leads to a speculative design of a Fish Auction Market in Havana. ...
W5132
19.09.2012
Leo Morrissey
WWW
Leo Morrissey 310 West 4th Street 1107 Winston Salem NC, 27101 USA 336-473 –3888 Leomorrissey58@hotmail.com Lmorrissey22@hotmail.com Project Concept – (Summary/Description ) Create a postcard in an edition of 8875 (representing the popula ...
Leo Morrissey 310 West 4th Street 1107 Winston Salem NC, 27101 USA 336-473 –3888 Leomorrissey58@hotmail.com Lmorrissey22@hotmail.com Project Concept – (Summary/Description ) Create a postcard in an edition of 8875 (representing the popula ...
W5028
31.08.2012
100 Minutes from the Lives of Shadows - János Xantus
WWW
'100 Minutes from the Lives of Shadows' A film of characters who are ignorent of being characters of a film. Except one of them... This "l'art pour l'art screenplay" was written by my friend Jean-Daniel Magnin and myself some twenty years ago. 1 ...
'100 Minutes from the Lives of Shadows' A film of characters who are ignorent of being characters of a film. Except one of them... This "l'art pour l'art screenplay" was written by my friend Jean-Daniel Magnin and myself some twenty years ago. 1 ...
W4369
25.05.2011
Importance of some Note - Qi.ng
WWW
Importance of some Note 12x8" Digital capture of graphite on 3x3" scrap paper I once had a mentor who would grouse on about the term 'art projects', as though these were something that had a distinct end and finish. The debate would always return to ...
Importance of some Note 12x8" Digital capture of graphite on 3x3" scrap paper I once had a mentor who would grouse on about the term 'art projects', as though these were something that had a distinct end and finish. The debate would always return to ...
W3731
18.05.2011
Tower - Felippe Moraes
WWW
The installation “Tower” is constituted by a 7m scaffold containing in its top a 3000w smoke machine from which, every five minutes, a large cloud is created and is naturally dispersed. ...
The installation “Tower” is constituted by a 7m scaffold containing in its top a 3000w smoke machine from which, every five minutes, a large cloud is created and is naturally dispersed. ...
W5117
17.09.2012
Cliff Dwelling - Adam Kuby
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Proposal for a sculpture that provides nesting habitat for peregrine falcons in a skyscraper. Adam Kuby, Artis t adam@adamkuby.com www.adamkuby.com 7019 SE Morrison St. Portland, OR 97215 (503) 752-5241 Call for Unrealized Projects Submission Cliff ...
Proposal for a sculpture that provides nesting habitat for peregrine falcons in a skyscraper. Adam Kuby, Artis t adam@adamkuby.com www.adamkuby.com 7019 SE Morrison St. Portland, OR 97215 (503) 752-5241 Call for Unrealized Projects Submission Cliff ...
W5496
30.10.2012
Hermitage Pilgrimage: Art Video - Sheridan Lowrey
WWW
The first project, "Contemporary Neo-Objective Sculpture," describes a combination of objects, an installation, which I prefer to leave as text. The second, "Hermitage Toilet Overflow," an unawarded sabbatical proposal. Sheridan Lowrey Full-time Fa ...
The first project, "Contemporary Neo-Objective Sculpture," describes a combination of objects, an installation, which I prefer to leave as text. The second, "Hermitage Toilet Overflow," an unawarded sabbatical proposal. Sheridan Lowrey Full-time Fa ...
W4914
14.08.2012
Possible Areas of Joint Action - Alec Steadman
WWW
The Experimental Art Action group present: Possible Areas of Joint Action A “Due to an electrical fault at the enlightenment gallery…” production 01/01/2013 - 01/01/2014 For the period of 1 year, beginning at midnight on the 01/01/2013 and e ...
The Experimental Art Action group present: Possible Areas of Joint Action A “Due to an electrical fault at the enlightenment gallery…” production 01/01/2013 - 01/01/2014 For the period of 1 year, beginning at midnight on the 01/01/2013 and e ...
W5245
10.10.2012
No.2 - Jim Bay
WWW
No.2 Come on Jim, make it happen. Do it. Focus. You can do it. I know that what you do isn't easy, but you chose this path Jim and have been treading it a good many years now. This fear, is amateurish. Come on Jim, you have lived, loved and lost. You h ...
No.2 Come on Jim, make it happen. Do it. Focus. You can do it. I know that what you do isn't easy, but you chose this path Jim and have been treading it a good many years now. This fear, is amateurish. Come on Jim, you have lived, loved and lost. You h ...
W3712
17.05.2011
A higher place, London 1998 (project) - Mark Pimlott
WWW
At Royal Docks, a series of parallel bands of different kinds of space and different kinds of use run alongside the existing dock. The dock was designed as a piece of infrastructure, orchestrating and rationalising the activities that took place anlongsid ...
At Royal Docks, a series of parallel bands of different kinds of space and different kinds of use run alongside the existing dock. The dock was designed as a piece of infrastructure, orchestrating and rationalising the activities that took place anlongsid ...
W5031
31.08.2012
If Wishes Were... - Ian Amell
WWW
"If Wishes Were..." was my proposal for a Public Realm sculpture based on the readily understood (in North America) practice at Christmas and Easter of wishing on the neck bone of the turkey eaten at these family feasts. Venice has its “Bridge of Si ...
"If Wishes Were..." was my proposal for a Public Realm sculpture based on the readily understood (in North America) practice at Christmas and Easter of wishing on the neck bone of the turkey eaten at these family feasts. Venice has its “Bridge of Si ...
W3796
18.05.2011
melissa day
WWW
Oil paintings varing sizes from 2 1/2 X 3 1/2 feet Experimenting with deliberate and accidental use of paint. Pouring paint allows a natural fluid style to occur .Then going back in these shapes and contain or control these ambiguous shapes... ...
Oil paintings varing sizes from 2 1/2 X 3 1/2 feet Experimenting with deliberate and accidental use of paint. Pouring paint allows a natural fluid style to occur .Then going back in these shapes and contain or control these ambiguous shapes... ...
W10475
27.04.2014
Archive of Forgotten Ideas - Cecilia Guida and 42 contributors
WWW
Sometimes we have ideas that we like but for rational, emotional or practical reasons we think they won’t work out or we aren’t able to develop them at that moment. Consequently we keep them apart, “hide” them somewhere in a peripheral and little ...
Sometimes we have ideas that we like but for rational, emotional or practical reasons we think they won’t work out or we aren’t able to develop them at that moment. Consequently we keep them apart, “hide” them somewhere in a peripheral and little ...
W4337
24.05.2011
Mitchell Marco
WWW
Mitchell Marco This is a sketch from a found photograph of a criminal. I wanted to present him as a dark and mysterious figure in a big narrative painting. I imagined his environment would be hazy and atmospheric, an enigmatic character in the mids ...
Mitchell Marco This is a sketch from a found photograph of a criminal. I wanted to present him as a dark and mysterious figure in a big narrative painting. I imagined his environment would be hazy and atmospheric, an enigmatic character in the mids ...
W4493
25.05.2011
Luzia Simons/
WWW
W4594
25.05.2011
Monastic garden in an edge space of a retail park, London, UK - Peter Ainsworth
WWW
Monastic garden in an edge space of a retail park, London, UK Space that is on the peripheries of major roads and towns has a distinctly singular usage: to consume. Out of town shopping malls, retail parks have an inexplicable draw, yet they also have ...
Monastic garden in an edge space of a retail park, London, UK Space that is on the peripheries of major roads and towns has a distinctly singular usage: to consume. Out of town shopping malls, retail parks have an inexplicable draw, yet they also have ...
W3666
15.05.2011
Sand Fall - Eldon Garnet
WWW
This Holocaust Memorial is comprised of two major elements: an above grade, open pavilion; a below grade, Sand Fall. Although not immediately apparent, the disjunctive, stainless steel pavilion is constructed of components of the Star of David. The ...
This Holocaust Memorial is comprised of two major elements: an above grade, open pavilion; a below grade, Sand Fall. Although not immediately apparent, the disjunctive, stainless steel pavilion is constructed of components of the Star of David. The ...
W5346
18.10.2012
Lisa Bateman
WWW
An installation of public smell (ocean, brine, tar, old fish) -housed inside an abandoned parking shack at the site of the old Fulton Fish Market, NYC. Smell is emitted from a DMX HVAC scent through the fence and into public space. ...
An installation of public smell (ocean, brine, tar, old fish) -housed inside an abandoned parking shack at the site of the old Fulton Fish Market, NYC. Smell is emitted from a DMX HVAC scent through the fence and into public space. ...
W4851
08.08.2012
Light Savers - John Ruggieri
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JOHN RUGGIERI PROPOSAL: Light Savers The following was submitted in 2003 in response to an invitation to artists to participate in THE FOUR ELEMENTS by The Forest Hills Educational Trust. This juried outdoor exhibition consists of temporary installa ...
JOHN RUGGIERI PROPOSAL: Light Savers The following was submitted in 2003 in response to an invitation to artists to participate in THE FOUR ELEMENTS by The Forest Hills Educational Trust. This juried outdoor exhibition consists of temporary installa ...
W4486
25.05.2011
12 Swings In a Circle - Veronica Wilton
WWW