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.

Unrealized Projects - Jonas Meckas

Attitudine Diplomatica - Hermann Pitz

"Free Space" - Michelangelo Pistoletto

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

Project pour le parc de sculpture de Vassiviére - Paul-Armand Gette

Post Photographic apparatus - Steven Pippin

Visual Poem: Cap I Cua - Joan Brossa

KEEPING IN TOUCH - Allan Kaprow

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

Monumento all'agricoltura 1969-70 - Alighiero Boetti

Agency of Unrealised Projects
Logo by Liam Gillick
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Date
Title
Source
Description
Tags
W3730
18.05.2011
“Priceless”, a proposal - Ama Saru Hsiao Chen
WWW
A proposal for an art fair. The difference between collections initiated through private sector and public fund raises concern of artworks value. As when artwork is purchased by a collector, it automatically obtains market value for future economic act ...
A proposal for an art fair. The difference between collections initiated through private sector and public fund raises concern of artworks value. As when artwork is purchased by a collector, it automatically obtains market value for future economic act ...
W5383
19.10.2012
Dorit Feldman, Orna Oren Izraeli and Na
WWW
Unrealized Project – Dorit Feldman, Orna Oren Izraeli and Na’ama Zussman This is a proposal that suggests a unique practice of the library, on its books, ephemera and other objects of use, as if they were surfaces. The exhibition is suggested to t ...
Unrealized Project – Dorit Feldman, Orna Oren Izraeli and Na’ama Zussman This is a proposal that suggests a unique practice of the library, on its books, ephemera and other objects of use, as if they were surfaces. The exhibition is suggested to t ...
W4240
24.05.2011
Josefina Posch
WWW
W3647
15.05.2011
World Atlas - ANNA LASCARI
WWW
“World Atlas” is a visual depiction of worldwide hunger. It is a monument to all the people whose lives are in stake due to hunger, whether it is a child that dies every five seconds from hunger related causes, or those in the West who search dumpster ...
“World Atlas” is a visual depiction of worldwide hunger. It is a monument to all the people whose lives are in stake due to hunger, whether it is a child that dies every five seconds from hunger related causes, or those in the West who search dumpster ...
W4908
13.08.2012
A collateral time. - Annalisa Furnari
WWW
A collateral time. Two videoinstallations: screening of two movies archive reprocessed in postproduction. In relation to each video, two sculptural installations: A base of white cement on where it is deposited a mat black mattress A volcanic mono ...
A collateral time. Two videoinstallations: screening of two movies archive reprocessed in postproduction. In relation to each video, two sculptural installations: A base of white cement on where it is deposited a mat black mattress A volcanic mono ...
W4244
24.05.2011
Hophornbeam Hill - McKendree Key
WWW
Hophornbeam Hill From August 2nd - September 3rd, 2009, I lived in the woods in Vermont on a hillside known locally as Hophornbeam Hill. ...
Hophornbeam Hill From August 2nd - September 3rd, 2009, I lived in the woods in Vermont on a hillside known locally as Hophornbeam Hill. ...
W5273
14.10.2012
Cut Here - Bryndís Björnsdóttir
WWW
Cut Here The work proposed for Art Needs Space is a simple drawing of a kite. The kite is digitally drawn as well as hand drawn but the hand drawn elements can be seen in the “cut here” lines of the kite figure. The two-dimensional poster is glued o ...
Cut Here The work proposed for Art Needs Space is a simple drawing of a kite. The kite is digitally drawn as well as hand drawn but the hand drawn elements can be seen in the “cut here” lines of the kite figure. The two-dimensional poster is glued o ...
W3948
20.05.2011
¿Che pasa?/Doesn't matter! - Beatrice Crastini
WWW
Project presented to Frieze Committee, year 2009 In any case i think that this project was in advance before of the Italian "bungabunga" scandal. Project: ¿Che pasa?/Doesn't matter! Recession, crisis, war, record price per barrel, unemployment, ...
Project presented to Frieze Committee, year 2009 In any case i think that this project was in advance before of the Italian "bungabunga" scandal. Project: ¿Che pasa?/Doesn't matter! Recession, crisis, war, record price per barrel, unemployment, ...
W4000
21.05.2011
Freedom Hill (2010) - Edward Salem
WWW
Freedom Hill (2010) At Freedom Hill in Sterling Heights, Michigan, a decommissioned tank, helicopter, cannon, and fighter jet have been permanently installed as monuments to U.S. military strength.  Taking a cue from Meret Oppenheim’s Object - Le DÃ ...
Freedom Hill (2010) At Freedom Hill in Sterling Heights, Michigan, a decommissioned tank, helicopter, cannon, and fighter jet have been permanently installed as monuments to U.S. military strength.  Taking a cue from Meret Oppenheim’s Object - Le DÃ ...
W3719
17.05.2011
Fortune teller project - Trasi Henen
WWW
The idea was to go to ten fortune tellers in one day. I wanted to gather their information, document the audio and the spaces from where they worked. To look at ideas around objective truth, synchronicity, trust and meaning. ...
The idea was to go to ten fortune tellers in one day. I wanted to gather their information, document the audio and the spaces from where they worked. To look at ideas around objective truth, synchronicity, trust and meaning. ...
W4062
23.05.2011
List of Musicians for Inclusion in Predictive Text - Song-Ming Ang
WWW
Dear Nokia, List of Musicians for Inclusion in Predictive Text I would like to offer a suggestion for your company, which is to include the names of commonly mentioned musicians into the word list of the Predictive Text function. As an avid ...
Dear Nokia, List of Musicians for Inclusion in Predictive Text I would like to offer a suggestion for your company, which is to include the names of commonly mentioned musicians into the word list of the Predictive Text function. As an avid ...
W5283
15.10.2012
FORTIFICATION PROJECT PROPOSAL FOR GERMAN PAVILION - Hakan Topal
WWW
A FORTIFICATION PROJECT PROPOSAL FOR GERMAN PAVILION, VENICE by Hakan Topal, 2009 In the beginning of February of 2009, I proposed a project to Liam Gillick to be realized at the periphery of the German Pavilion in Venice's Giardini. I had no intention to ...
A FORTIFICATION PROJECT PROPOSAL FOR GERMAN PAVILION, VENICE by Hakan Topal, 2009 In the beginning of February of 2009, I proposed a project to Liam Gillick to be realized at the periphery of the German Pavilion in Venice's Giardini. I had no intention to ...
W4396
25.05.2011
The Oyster Delusion - Sean Rafferty
WWW
The Oyster Delusion - a series of recent unrealised projects alongside page 99 of Voss, the 1957 novel by Patrick White. 2010. Large work: graphite on paper in aluminium window-frame. All other works: inkjet prints on archival paper in IKEA frames. Vos ...
The Oyster Delusion - a series of recent unrealised projects alongside page 99 of Voss, the 1957 novel by Patrick White. 2010. Large work: graphite on paper in aluminium window-frame. All other works: inkjet prints on archival paper in IKEA frames. Vos ...
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 ...
W4579
25.05.2011
URBAN ENTANGLEMENT - Annita Koutsonanou | Evy Tsolaki | Maria Spaniola
WWW
URBAN ENTANGLEMENT …I thought of a maze of mazes, of a sinuous, ever growing maze which would take in both past and future and would somehow involve the stars [..]. I thought that a man might be an enemy of other men, of the different moment of other ...
URBAN ENTANGLEMENT …I thought of a maze of mazes, of a sinuous, ever growing maze which would take in both past and future and would somehow involve the stars [..]. I thought that a man might be an enemy of other men, of the different moment of other ...
W5210
05.10.2012
The Ringer (What Every Tower Needs) - Zoe Mackler
WWW
Project Proposal In Brief -­ The Ringer (What Every Tower Needs) This work address the complex feelings of displacement and disconnect experienced by the Glasgow School of Art and the surrounding community during campus redevelopment. Honoring the ideals ...
Project Proposal In Brief -­ The Ringer (What Every Tower Needs) This work address the complex feelings of displacement and disconnect experienced by the Glasgow School of Art and the surrounding community during campus redevelopment. Honoring the ideals ...
W3725
17.05.2011
"The Well" by day and "The Cave" by night - Sissel Kardel
WWW
A four story tower, in the shape of a standing female figure, facade like that of a log cabin which you can enter and explore. Sissel Kardel works from documentary photographs that correspond to visions in which a contemplative female figure is set a ...
A four story tower, in the shape of a standing female figure, facade like that of a log cabin which you can enter and explore. Sissel Kardel works from documentary photographs that correspond to visions in which a contemplative female figure is set a ...
W5225
08.10.2012
Mystery of Vault 13 - Deivis Slavinskas
WWW
Artist Name: Deivis Slavinskas Email: studio@slavinskas.com Website: http://www.Slavinskas.com Artwork * Please note that all the following information is for the reference only and is subject to change during the development Photos: Artist' ...
Artist Name: Deivis Slavinskas Email: studio@slavinskas.com Website: http://www.Slavinskas.com Artwork * Please note that all the following information is for the reference only and is subject to change during the development Photos: Artist' ...
W3735
18.05.2011
Revelation - Felippe Moraes
WWW
The installation “Revelation” consisits in a room where everything is White and with a White marble sand in the floor. A white peacock inhabits the room where it can freely walk over the furniture, the objects and those continuously mod ...
The installation “Revelation” consisits in a room where everything is White and with a White marble sand in the floor. A white peacock inhabits the room where it can freely walk over the furniture, the objects and those continuously mod ...
W4618
25.05.2011
L’Auditorium A,  - DEHOVE Claire
WWW
L’Auditorium A, Dans sa proximité se construit aujourd’hui l’un des derniers tronçons autorou- tiers. Si cette construction a défiguré le paysage naturel en laissant des cicatrices indélébiles dans la terre et la végétation, si elle a occa ...
L’Auditorium A, Dans sa proximité se construit aujourd’hui l’un des derniers tronçons autorou- tiers. Si cette construction a défiguré le paysage naturel en laissant des cicatrices indélébiles dans la terre et la végétation, si elle a occa ...
W4830
07.08.2012
Carbonsphere - Evelyn Rosenberg and Anthony Hyde
WWW
Black balls represent carbon atoms. They are piled in the bottom of the container at their present accumulation in the atmosphere. Each time an equivalent amount of carbon is released in the atmosphere a ball would be dropped. Each time a carbon reductio ...
Black balls represent carbon atoms. They are piled in the bottom of the container at their present accumulation in the atmosphere. Each time an equivalent amount of carbon is released in the atmosphere a ball would be dropped. Each time a carbon reductio ...
W11076
07.04.2016
Temple of Modern Virtue - Vilja Achté
WWW
My work revolves around the relevance of the intentionally incomplete state as a method of production in art and design practice. The term itself is an adaptation of the Renaissance term ‘non-finito’, which quite literally means ‘not finished’, an ...
My work revolves around the relevance of the intentionally incomplete state as a method of production in art and design practice. The term itself is an adaptation of the Renaissance term ‘non-finito’, which quite literally means ‘not finished’, an ...
W4200
24.05.2011
Money what else - Angelo Ricciardi
WWW
My projects are often unrealized projects. Many and different the reasons. Practical difficulties, like the lack of money, the lack of a physical suitable space, of real opportunities, are certainly present and important, but, at the end, surmountable. Mo ...
My projects are often unrealized projects. Many and different the reasons. Practical difficulties, like the lack of money, the lack of a physical suitable space, of real opportunities, are certainly present and important, but, at the end, surmountable. Mo ...
W5285
16.10.2012
Asurini  - Adriana
WWW
Asurini – Textile Design It was my last years in University (2006) when I developed and designed this project. It took 9 months searching and designing it. I was fascinated about the local (Brazilian Indians Asurini) body painting and the story behin ...
Asurini – Textile Design It was my last years in University (2006) when I developed and designed this project. It took 9 months searching and designing it. I was fascinated about the local (Brazilian Indians Asurini) body painting and the story behin ...
W5902
18.10.2013
Waterland - Matthijs Muller
WWW
Waterland is floating like a boat but has the appearance of an island. The busy city life suggested by the lampposts and traffic signs is alienated by the flexibility of the islands ground surface. Every wave in the water makes the pavement and poles mov ...
Waterland is floating like a boat but has the appearance of an island. The busy city life suggested by the lampposts and traffic signs is alienated by the flexibility of the islands ground surface. Every wave in the water makes the pavement and poles mov ...
W4220
24.05.2011
Strayed in Schizophrenic Landscapes of a Celibate Machine - Atelier Uraiqat
WWW
Strayed in Schizophrenic Landscapes of a Celibate Machine Atelier Uraiqat “ The forces of living bodies,..... which exert their energy or force through the production of the new and create, through their efforts, networks, fields, territories that ...
Strayed in Schizophrenic Landscapes of a Celibate Machine Atelier Uraiqat “ The forces of living bodies,..... which exert their energy or force through the production of the new and create, through their efforts, networks, fields, territories that ...