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.

Nicht realisierte Projekte - Stefan Demary

Museum - Katharina Fritsch

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

Invitation Space No.1 - Tania Mouraud

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

The Clock - Ayse Erkmen

Ceinture - Huang Ping Yong

Post Photographic apparatus - Steven Pippin

Passage - Richard Wentworth

Project tor the Veterans Administration Hospital--Bay Pines, Florida. - Robert Morris

Agency of Unrealised Projects
Logo by Liam Gillick
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Date
Title
Source
Description
Tags
W5063
04.09.2012
TheStore - Tine Wilde
WWW
TheStore: The Construct of a Life Package. Proposal for Arhus Kunstbygning 2011. The exhibition space is piled with boxes, containing (fragments of) works of art, gathered around a wooden framework. The visitor is invited to fill up the framework with ...
TheStore: The Construct of a Life Package. Proposal for Arhus Kunstbygning 2011. The exhibition space is piled with boxes, containing (fragments of) works of art, gathered around a wooden framework. The visitor is invited to fill up the framework with ...
W4770
29.05.2011
jean-paul moreira
WWW
For the location of a site specific vegetable garden installation, from the end of winter 2007 until fall, behind Blaak bus stop, near the WdKA in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, I imagined, designed and planned a 4x6x3metres glass house where climbing plants ...
For the location of a site specific vegetable garden installation, from the end of winter 2007 until fall, behind Blaak bus stop, near the WdKA in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, I imagined, designed and planned a 4x6x3metres glass house where climbing plants ...
W5491
26.10.2012
AUDIOLABIA - Karen Hibbard
WWW
Arist Book Proposal by Karen Hibbard, Women’s Studio Workshop, 2011. The title merges the words ‘audio’ and ‘labia’. Audio is any refers to any representation of sound. Labium (plural labia) is a Latin‐derived term meaning "Lip".The labia are ...
Arist Book Proposal by Karen Hibbard, Women’s Studio Workshop, 2011. The title merges the words ‘audio’ and ‘labia’. Audio is any refers to any representation of sound. Labium (plural labia) is a Latin‐derived term meaning "Lip".The labia are ...
W4955
20.08.2012
Museum of Rene's Contemptorary Art - Rene Price
WWW
MORCA Museum of Rene’s Contemporary Art Rene has produced too much Artstuff. He likes all of it and he has been able to afford to keep it all in storage. His website (www.reneprice.ca) presents 1000 of his more than 2000 3 ...
MORCA Museum of Rene’s Contemporary Art Rene has produced too much Artstuff. He likes all of it and he has been able to afford to keep it all in storage. His website (www.reneprice.ca) presents 1000 of his more than 2000 3 ...
W5356
19.10.2012
german ramirez
WWW
At the moment I am working on a project which relates Nature and Religion. Are they complementary? Do they share common roots? Do they justify one another. Is one consequence of the other? I use photography to manipulate images confronting human beliefs. ...
At the moment I am working on a project which relates Nature and Religion. Are they complementary? Do they share common roots? Do they justify one another. Is one consequence of the other? I use photography to manipulate images confronting human beliefs. ...
W4140
23.05.2011
Projections on Paintings - Rebecca Sherman
WWW
Projections on Paintings displays a dialogue between moving and still images to generate unpredictable visuals in real time. It includes several large-scale mix media paintings of architectural constructions that extend into a scaffolding installation o ...
Projections on Paintings displays a dialogue between moving and still images to generate unpredictable visuals in real time. It includes several large-scale mix media paintings of architectural constructions that extend into a scaffolding installation o ...
W5214
06.10.2012
Pentahedrices - Stephen Da Lay
WWW
Stephen M. Da Lay has met the requirements for the Marjorie Schiele Prize. He received his BFA from the Kansas City Art Institute in 1989, and his work has been shown nationally and internationally. Stephen’s work has been exhibited at 2nd Penang I ...
Stephen M. Da Lay has met the requirements for the Marjorie Schiele Prize. He received his BFA from the Kansas City Art Institute in 1989, and his work has been shown nationally and internationally. Stephen’s work has been exhibited at 2nd Penang I ...
U9712
14.11.1992
Memorial - Ilya Kabakov
Unbuilt Roads
Kabakov "MEMORIAL" Short description of the project The Concept of the Project "Memorial" The Russian revolution which established the "era of Socialism" is considered to be a most important event of the twentieth century. The end of ...
Kabakov "MEMORIAL" Short description of the project The Concept of the Project "Memorial" The Russian revolution which established the "era of Socialism" is considered to be a most important event of the twentieth century. The end of ...
W4654
25.05.2011
City of Revolutions - Stefanos Tsivopoulos
WWW
City of Revolutions An unrealized project by Stefanos Tsivopoulos "Whoever could be in charge of the public sphere of Tehran was in charge of the country. The contest over, and the domination of, the public spaces of the city was the embodiment of the ...
City of Revolutions An unrealized project by Stefanos Tsivopoulos "Whoever could be in charge of the public sphere of Tehran was in charge of the country. The contest over, and the domination of, the public spaces of the city was the embodiment of the ...
W3785
18.05.2011
STORI-O-GRAPH - Dan Sinclair
WWW
We currently live in a culture where the vacuum of the digital market supersedes the marginalized interaction with LP’s. Because of this I believe there is a need for others to experience the tangible ritual with records. I am curating a collectio ...
We currently live in a culture where the vacuum of the digital market supersedes the marginalized interaction with LP’s. Because of this I believe there is a need for others to experience the tangible ritual with records. I am curating a collectio ...
W4591
25.05.2011
Unbuilt Art Project - colab studio, llc
WWW
colab studio, llc Reach 11 – Unbuilt Art Project AUP 05.25.11 Reach 11 is a sports complex in North Phoenix comprised of 18 soccer fields and 4 baseball fields. A Call for Artists went out to provide large amounts of shade at four diverse locations with ...
colab studio, llc Reach 11 – Unbuilt Art Project AUP 05.25.11 Reach 11 is a sports complex in North Phoenix comprised of 18 soccer fields and 4 baseball fields. A Call for Artists went out to provide large amounts of shade at four diverse locations with ...
W4613
25.05.2011
'Fish tank of snake eyes' - Valerie Driscoll
WWW
'Fish tank of snake eyes' A glass tank (measuring 60 cm x 60 cm and 40 cm tall). On the base of the tank will stand approximately 50-60 erect penises made from glass. Each glass penis will be life size and will be different in shape and size (preferably ...
'Fish tank of snake eyes' A glass tank (measuring 60 cm x 60 cm and 40 cm tall). On the base of the tank will stand approximately 50-60 erect penises made from glass. Each glass penis will be life size and will be different in shape and size (preferably ...
W4533
25.05.2011
Heim im Licht  - Heim in Licht
WWW
Heim im Licht Project's model 1:250. Photovoltaic system, conic structure of black rubber with thermal insulation and internal controlled conditions of temperature, humidity and air circulation. ∅ 4,5m x 3m. Inside the structure: young oak tree in lea ...
Heim im Licht Project's model 1:250. Photovoltaic system, conic structure of black rubber with thermal insulation and internal controlled conditions of temperature, humidity and air circulation. ∅ 4,5m x 3m. Inside the structure: young oak tree in lea ...
W5367
19.10.2012
STATIC REVOLVER - Jessie Stead
WWW
Known for bad food but impressive panoramas, hundreds of revolving restaurants rotate imperceptibly on oversized turntables high above cities worldwide. This unrealized project is an experimental motion picture. ...
Known for bad food but impressive panoramas, hundreds of revolving restaurants rotate imperceptibly on oversized turntables high above cities worldwide. This unrealized project is an experimental motion picture. ...
W3820
19.05.2011
ArtPOTLATCH - Exhibition as Test Lab/ Art as Gift - Rebecca Keller
WWW
POTLATCH A potlatch is a tradition carried on by many NW coast Indian tribes. The chief would celebrate a significant event (birth, marriage) by hosting a Potlatch. A huge feast would be provided, and gifts such as blankets, etc. would be given to the ...
POTLATCH A potlatch is a tradition carried on by many NW coast Indian tribes. The chief would celebrate a significant event (birth, marriage) by hosting a Potlatch. A huge feast would be provided, and gifts such as blankets, etc. would be given to the ...
W3814
19.05.2011
Caitlin Masley
WWW
“…by remembering that cities are more than just habitats or geographical entities. They extend beyond networks of communication, commerce, sociality, or politics. Cities often exist in the form of memories and aspirations, and these cities are no less ...
“…by remembering that cities are more than just habitats or geographical entities. They extend beyond networks of communication, commerce, sociality, or politics. Cities often exist in the form of memories and aspirations, and these cities are no less ...
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 ...
W3579
13.05.2011
Nyela Saeed
WWW
I was born in Mumbai and received my Bachelor’s in Fine Arts from Sir J.J School of Art, Mumbai in 2004 and Post Baccalaureate Diploma from Pont Aven School of Art, Brittany, France in 2006. My last solo show titled ‘Impositions’ was held in Switzer ...
I was born in Mumbai and received my Bachelor’s in Fine Arts from Sir J.J School of Art, Mumbai in 2004 and Post Baccalaureate Diploma from Pont Aven School of Art, Brittany, France in 2006. My last solo show titled ‘Impositions’ was held in Switzer ...
W4521
25.05.2011
The 5-Minute Fellowship  - Gabriela Vainsencher
WWW
The 5-Minute Fellowship The 5-Minute Fellowship is a project in which artists will each receive $20 in exchange for a small work made in 5 minutes. I will arrive at the 5-Minute fellows’ studios with materials, a camera and $20, and leave with a small ...
The 5-Minute Fellowship The 5-Minute Fellowship is a project in which artists will each receive $20 in exchange for a small work made in 5 minutes. I will arrive at the 5-Minute fellows’ studios with materials, a camera and $20, and leave with a small ...
W5143
23.09.2012
The Phoenix Atlas - The Phoenix Atlas
WWW
The Phoenix Atlas is an Internet-based art collective, run by Dutch curator/art critic Okke De Groot, Brazilian artist Ana Laura Ferreira and Croatian art writer/publisher Jan Karan. The project focuses on writing as a practice between fiction, art criti ...
The Phoenix Atlas is an Internet-based art collective, run by Dutch curator/art critic Okke De Groot, Brazilian artist Ana Laura Ferreira and Croatian art writer/publisher Jan Karan. The project focuses on writing as a practice between fiction, art criti ...
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 ...
W4921
16.08.2012
‘Proposition for Trove: Light Installation/Painting According to Tonal Values’ and ‘Proposal for Modernist Teepee in Poured Concrete’ - Mary Yacoob
WWW
Title of Image 1: ‘Proposition for Trove: Light Installation/Painting According to Tonal Values’, 42 x 29.5cm, ink and graphite on paper, 2011 Title of Image 2: ‘Proposal for Modernist Teepee in Poured Concrete’, ink and graphite on paper, 50.8 ...
Title of Image 1: ‘Proposition for Trove: Light Installation/Painting According to Tonal Values’, 42 x 29.5cm, ink and graphite on paper, 2011 Title of Image 2: ‘Proposal for Modernist Teepee in Poured Concrete’, ink and graphite on paper, 50.8 ...
W4887
10.08.2012
Caravan Tour - An Inverted World - Ann Messner
WWW
caravan tour — an inverted world A Proposal for a Transportable Camera Obscura for the Courts of Lower Manhattan The Lower Manhattan court buildings in their neoclassical grandeur and scale endure as visual tropes of the solidity of the power of justice ...
caravan tour — an inverted world A Proposal for a Transportable Camera Obscura for the Courts of Lower Manhattan The Lower Manhattan court buildings in their neoclassical grandeur and scale endure as visual tropes of the solidity of the power of justice ...
W4679
26.05.2011
“Freud is the Mirror of Marx” - Andrea Goldman
WWW
“Freud is the Mirror of Marx” would be a photographic show down a long hallway or narrow room. On one side of the hallway, images tangentially related to Freudian thought are hung, across from each image is a photograph tangentially related to Marxist ...
“Freud is the Mirror of Marx” would be a photographic show down a long hallway or narrow room. On one side of the hallway, images tangentially related to Freudian thought are hung, across from each image is a photograph tangentially related to Marxist ...
W5368
19.10.2012
World Trade Center Memorial Proposal - Stephen Canneto
WWW
The design honors and celebrates the lives of those killed in the September 11, 2001 attacks. The figurative road to healing begins with a literal journey, with the soaring zenith of the Memorial Spire catching the eye of newly arriving visitors, ...
The design honors and celebrates the lives of those killed in the September 11, 2001 attacks. The figurative road to healing begins with a literal journey, with the soaring zenith of the Memorial Spire catching the eye of newly arriving visitors, ...
W4308
24.05.2011
Adam Battestilli
WWW
POEM You view the world Through rose-tinted handsoap In a clear plastic bottle Pressed up against your eye. People ask you why. You sigh, and you reply, Why, it makes everything pink! And helps me rid My fingers of the stink Of ...
POEM You view the world Through rose-tinted handsoap In a clear plastic bottle Pressed up against your eye. People ask you why. You sigh, and you reply, Why, it makes everything pink! And helps me rid My fingers of the stink Of ...