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.

Memorial - Ilya Kabakov

Isometric Projection - Sol Lewitt

Project for the Initiative Mahnmal Homosexuellenverfolgung, Frankfurt  - Jeff Wall

Projets non réalisés: - Daniel Buren

Projet pour la Place Saint Léger à Chambery  - Erik Dietman

Unrealized Turtles 1967 - Joseph Grigely

Engel-Detektor - Jakob Gautel & Jason Karaïndros

Tower Cranes, Paris  - Tadashi Kawamata

Aus: Katalog 'Kunst bleibt Kunst' - Hans Peter Feldman

Monumento all'agricoltura 1969-70 - Alighiero Boetti

Agency of Unrealised Projects
Logo by Liam Gillick
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Date
Title
Source
Description
Tags
W5472
21.10.2012
Ismael Duá
WWW
Berlin, October 7th 2012 Dear publishers, from my numerous unrealised ideas, I uphold this one as the dearest, for I feel that we need it most these days: a paradigm shift across the arts, the sciences and politics which will allow to surpass des ...
Berlin, October 7th 2012 Dear publishers, from my numerous unrealised ideas, I uphold this one as the dearest, for I feel that we need it most these days: a paradigm shift across the arts, the sciences and politics which will allow to surpass des ...
W3493
11.05.2011
SEX CHAT KARAOKE - Sally-Ann Blaise
WWW
SEX CHAT KARAOKE A Selection of TEXT collected by artist through late night sex chat rooms is printed in duplicate and arranged at the corner of a stage, upon which a small FUNK BAND is playing a GROOVE. audience participate by selecting text in tandem ...
SEX CHAT KARAOKE A Selection of TEXT collected by artist through late night sex chat rooms is printed in duplicate and arranged at the corner of a stage, upon which a small FUNK BAND is playing a GROOVE. audience participate by selecting text in tandem ...
W5006
30.08.2012
Das soziale NetzKunstwerk - Karen Eliot
WWW
An internet forum/ social network for Open Source Art projects: Artists always have unrealized ideas - things that just slumber in sketchbooks forever. We want to create a website, where users can propose such projects and leave it open for others to adop ...
An internet forum/ social network for Open Source Art projects: Artists always have unrealized ideas - things that just slumber in sketchbooks forever. We want to create a website, where users can propose such projects and leave it open for others to adop ...
W4713
26.05.2011
CHROMA - spmb [Eduardo Aquino & Karen Shanski]
WWW
CHROMA [2011] was a proposal by spmb for a permanent public art project for the Mount Dennis Neighbourhood in Toronto, Canada. It is derived from the neighbourhood’s desire to signify one entrance into Mount Dennis through art, more specifically marking ...
CHROMA [2011] was a proposal by spmb for a permanent public art project for the Mount Dennis Neighbourhood in Toronto, Canada. It is derived from the neighbourhood’s desire to signify one entrance into Mount Dennis through art, more specifically marking ...
W3704
17.05.2011
Making Aliyah - Nathaniel Katz and Valentina Curandi
WWW
We are proposing to immigrate to the Jewish Autonomous Oblast in Russia. The concept of this proposal derives from the implied duty of Jews in diaspora to immigrate, make “Aliyah” to the State of Israel. (Literally “Aliyah” means ascension. To mak ...
We are proposing to immigrate to the Jewish Autonomous Oblast in Russia. The concept of this proposal derives from the implied duty of Jews in diaspora to immigrate, make “Aliyah” to the State of Israel. (Literally “Aliyah” means ascension. To mak ...
W4271
24.05.2011
Kristin Jones / Andrew Ginzel
WWW
Oregon Convention Center Proposal Portland, Oregon 1988 ...
Oregon Convention Center Proposal Portland, Oregon 1988 ...
D10785
01.01.2013
TO BUY A CAR AND DROP IT IN THE OCEAN IN THE MIDDLE OF A FULLMOON NIGHT - Bruzzone
DAAD
TO BUY A CAR AND DROP IT IN THE OCEAN IN THE MIDDLE OF A FULLMOON NIGHT ...
TO BUY A CAR AND DROP IT IN THE OCEAN IN THE MIDDLE OF A FULLMOON NIGHT ...
W4724
26.05.2011
Transylvanian Pavilion  - horea
WWW
Transylvanian Pavilion Two proposals that requested the “presence” of a temporary pavilion representing Transylvania at the Venice Biannual. The first one was addressed to Professor Bonito-Oliva in 1993 and the second was addressed to Francesco ...
Transylvanian Pavilion Two proposals that requested the “presence” of a temporary pavilion representing Transylvania at the Venice Biannual. The first one was addressed to Professor Bonito-Oliva in 1993 and the second was addressed to Francesco ...
W4276
24.05.2011
Proposal for the New Jersey State Aquarium - Kristin Jones / Andrew Ginzel
WWW
Proposal for the New Jersey State Aquarium Camden, New Jersey ...
Proposal for the New Jersey State Aquarium Camden, New Jersey ...
W4750
27.05.2011
l’Arc d’University Street - Jack Mackie
WWW
For the better part of the last 75 years, Seattle’s Alaska Way Viaduct has dominated Seattle’s Central Waterfront. Now scheduled for demolition, Seattle will, as apparently planned, simply clearcut the viaduct form the waterfront in as attempted exor ...
For the better part of the last 75 years, Seattle’s Alaska Way Viaduct has dominated Seattle’s Central Waterfront. Now scheduled for demolition, Seattle will, as apparently planned, simply clearcut the viaduct form the waterfront in as attempted exor ...
W11011
04.04.2016
Writings Jobs - Fani Zguro
WWW
“Writings Jobs” is a project that has started in 2001, by developing texts in high dimensions in public spaces (are different productions from 2001 to 2002, but the most special one l made was at historical advertising Armani close to Via del Orso in ...
“Writings Jobs” is a project that has started in 2001, by developing texts in high dimensions in public spaces (are different productions from 2001 to 2002, but the most special one l made was at historical advertising Armani close to Via del Orso in ...
W3699
17.05.2011
Nikki White
WWW
Both pieces I have submitted were started when I was feeling a certain way. I began making the sketches (which is what you see here) then I stopped working on the sketches and the paintings were never born. The reason for this is that since both were cr ...
Both pieces I have submitted were started when I was feeling a certain way. I began making the sketches (which is what you see here) then I stopped working on the sketches and the paintings were never born. The reason for this is that since both were cr ...
W4348
24.05.2011
Safe Haven - Farrell Brickhouse
WWW
Farrell Brickhouse Unrealized Projects The year before 9/11 I was unable to paint in my studio and I made a series of images about The World Trade Center on handy wall calendars. I lived on West Broadway one block north of the colossal buildings that ...
Farrell Brickhouse Unrealized Projects The year before 9/11 I was unable to paint in my studio and I made a series of images about The World Trade Center on handy wall calendars. I lived on West Broadway one block north of the colossal buildings that ...
W5374
19.10.2012
Broken Window - Alex Villar
WWW
Between '71 and '73, during the time Gordon Matta-Clark, Caroline Goodden and others ran the restaurant Food in Soho on 127 Prince Street, artists submitted projects for an event series hosted at the restaurant and called Sunday Night Guest Chef Dinners. ...
Between '71 and '73, during the time Gordon Matta-Clark, Caroline Goodden and others ran the restaurant Food in Soho on 127 Prince Street, artists submitted projects for an event series hosted at the restaurant and called Sunday Night Guest Chef Dinners. ...
W5081
06.09.2012
Der Todeszug - The LGB Group
WWW
Der Todeszug is a project that envisioned using an entire train as a canvas. Not as a bombed out suburban train, but a civic connection between the seperated Belgrade and Sarajevo, whose train connection was severed for over 18 years due to war and nation ...
Der Todeszug is a project that envisioned using an entire train as a canvas. Not as a bombed out suburban train, but a civic connection between the seperated Belgrade and Sarajevo, whose train connection was severed for over 18 years due to war and nation ...
W3532
11.05.2011
The Sounds of the Sun Pavilion - Michael Jantzen
WWW
​The Sounds of the Sun Pavilion is a conceptual proposal for a large structure made of many small, pre-fabricated, square, curved, steel tube components. These components are joined together to form thirteen large interwoven curved elements. One side o ...
​The Sounds of the Sun Pavilion is a conceptual proposal for a large structure made of many small, pre-fabricated, square, curved, steel tube components. These components are joined together to form thirteen large interwoven curved elements. One side o ...
W3876
19.05.2011
CURTAIN CALL: Giant drawing as suspended sculpture - Derek Michael Besant
WWW
Client: Windspear Music Centre / City of Edmonton / Canada Date: 1996 Sculpture designed to hang suspended in new Windspear music Hall Tower The idea was to create a drawing in space that was linear, but described volume. The giant detail of fold ...
Client: Windspear Music Centre / City of Edmonton / Canada Date: 1996 Sculpture designed to hang suspended in new Windspear music Hall Tower The idea was to create a drawing in space that was linear, but described volume. The giant detail of fold ...
U9798
01.01.1972
Prima del 73 - Fabio Mauri
Unbuilt Roads
see my letter (eventually reasons why the work has not been realised) Anxiety Previous Publications (?) This thing is mentioned in "Fabio Mauri Opere e Azioni 1954-1994" Giorgio Mondadori Ed. Exisiting Documents (photos, drawings, models): ...
see my letter (eventually reasons why the work has not been realised) Anxiety Previous Publications (?) This thing is mentioned in "Fabio Mauri Opere e Azioni 1954-1994" Giorgio Mondadori Ed. Exisiting Documents (photos, drawings, models): ...
W10936
22.06.2015
THORAX - Marion Inglessi
WWW
When we are sick, we are vulnerable. Increasingly assailed by medicine, we maintain a fearful and passive attitude towards our health and therapy, an attitude of hopeful expectation which often has an uncertain outcome. The Sotiria Project, Memory and ...
When we are sick, we are vulnerable. Increasingly assailed by medicine, we maintain a fearful and passive attitude towards our health and therapy, an attitude of hopeful expectation which often has an uncertain outcome. The Sotiria Project, Memory and ...
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 ...
W4423
25.05.2011
Suspended in the Void  - Juan G. Caicedo D.
WWW
Suspended in the Void In the courtyard of the building, on the corner between the northern and eastern façades there is a balcony. In front of it a large object is suspended, it is not a magical event, it does not float miraculously: it hangs from a re ...
Suspended in the Void In the courtyard of the building, on the corner between the northern and eastern façades there is a balcony. In front of it a large object is suspended, it is not a magical event, it does not float miraculously: it hangs from a re ...
W4213
24.05.2011
MAXXI TV - ELASTIC Group of Artistic Research
WWW
MAXXI TV, unrealized project by ELASTIC Group of Artistic Research for the MAXXI- National Museum of the 21st Century Arts in Rome (Italy) Report on the approach to the subject,work placement and dialogue with the architecture of the museum: ...
MAXXI TV, unrealized project by ELASTIC Group of Artistic Research for the MAXXI- National Museum of the 21st Century Arts in Rome (Italy) Report on the approach to the subject,work placement and dialogue with the architecture of the museum: ...
W5343
18.10.2012
Unrealized project proposal for AUP  - Lito Kattou & Leontios Toumpouris
WWW
Unrealized project proposal for AUP Willing to continue investigating our relationship with natural components of the environment and expanding the development of the project in progress “Untitled dualism”, it would be a matter of great interest f ...
Unrealized project proposal for AUP Willing to continue investigating our relationship with natural components of the environment and expanding the development of the project in progress “Untitled dualism”, it would be a matter of great interest f ...
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 ...
U9923
01.01.1993
den anonymen Tod ausstellen - Gregor Schneider
Unbuilt Roads
Ich wache auf Eine Junge Frau liegt neben mir. Das licht fällt auf ihren blassen körper. Sie at mit nicht. Ich warme sie. sie sieht wunderschön und glucklich aus. Rhydt 1995 Ein toter Mensch liegt auf dem Boden. Licht fällt auf den blassen Körp ...
Ich wache auf Eine Junge Frau liegt neben mir. Das licht fällt auf ihren blassen körper. Sie at mit nicht. Ich warme sie. sie sieht wunderschön und glucklich aus. Rhydt 1995 Ein toter Mensch liegt auf dem Boden. Licht fällt auf den blassen Körp ...
W10641
18.07.2014
The Last of All Maladies - Galería Perdida
WWW
We have produced a typeface (TrueType font) to redirect the character usage in language. Such as it is, each letter is supplanted by a non-sequitur phrase turning the original copy unintelligible, yet repositioned as concrete poetry. Thus, each piece of w ...
We have produced a typeface (TrueType font) to redirect the character usage in language. Such as it is, each letter is supplanted by a non-sequitur phrase turning the original copy unintelligible, yet repositioned as concrete poetry. Thus, each piece of w ...