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.

Milan House (AC/DC & Joy Division) - Liam Gillick

Ceinture - Huang Ping Yong

The bridge according to Jeong-a's dream - Koo Jeong

Eight Days a Week - Joe Scanlan

NON REALIZED PROJECTS - Christo and Jeanne-Claude

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

Unrealized project for Tate Gallery + ICA, 1969 - Gilbert and George

PROPOSALl + VOORSTEL - Guillame Bijl

Unrealized Turtles 1967 - Joseph Grigely

PROJEKT - Ulrich Rückreim

Agency of Unrealised Projects
Logo by Liam Gillick
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Date
Title
Source
Description
Tags
W4193
24.05.2011
Matthew Mitchell
WWW
1992-93 unrealized site specific installation of a New York City Metropolitan Transit Authority map into a New York City Metropolitan Transit Authority subway train car. ...
1992-93 unrealized site specific installation of a New York City Metropolitan Transit Authority map into a New York City Metropolitan Transit Authority subway train car. ...
W4079
23.05.2011
O.K & K.O Bank - O.K & K.O Bank
WWW
This was a proposal realized for Neón Parallax Project in Geneva, Schwitzerland. This is an ambitious and singular public art project that will provide with luminous artworks to set on the roofs of buildings around the Plaine de Plainpalais Imagine a ...
This was a proposal realized for Neón Parallax Project in Geneva, Schwitzerland. This is an ambitious and singular public art project that will provide with luminous artworks to set on the roofs of buildings around the Plaine de Plainpalais Imagine a ...
W3967
21.05.2011
3DPrintMe.com - Sarah Jane Pell
WWW
3DPrintMe.com a biomedical animation and installation of futuristic invivo designer organs. See: http://www.sarahjanepell.com/human.html Biomedical animation plays on a continuous loop projection The audience design or modify CAD Organs www.3DP ...
3DPrintMe.com a biomedical animation and installation of futuristic invivo designer organs. See: http://www.sarahjanepell.com/human.html Biomedical animation plays on a continuous loop projection The audience design or modify CAD Organs www.3DP ...
W5413
20.10.2012
Inês Buruguete
WWW
3 diaries 9x14 cm (3.5 x 5.5 inches) This project consists in 3 self reflexive diaries about the Sisyphus Myth. The drawings collection aims to explore the internal process of the self in his cyclically task. A call for unrealized projects Inês B ...
3 diaries 9x14 cm (3.5 x 5.5 inches) This project consists in 3 self reflexive diaries about the Sisyphus Myth. The drawings collection aims to explore the internal process of the self in his cyclically task. A call for unrealized projects Inês B ...
W5261
12.10.2012
Memory Confetti - Stephen j Shanabrook / Veronika Georgieva
WWW
STEPHEN j SHANABROOK / VERONIKA GEORGIEVA MEMORY CONFETTI The project MEMORY CONFETTI consists of two parts: through various social network sites we will introduce the project and request the public’s time based participation in sending us imag ...
STEPHEN j SHANABROOK / VERONIKA GEORGIEVA MEMORY CONFETTI The project MEMORY CONFETTI consists of two parts: through various social network sites we will introduce the project and request the public’s time based participation in sending us imag ...
W4454
25.05.2011
Skin and shelter!  - Resa Gartner
WWW
Skin and shelter! The contemporary city provides many of the existential layers necessary to accommodate an extremely fast paced society. Today, diverse environments intersect in the same spaces. Virtual and real existing places gather or loose in imp ...
Skin and shelter! The contemporary city provides many of the existential layers necessary to accommodate an extremely fast paced society. Today, diverse environments intersect in the same spaces. Virtual and real existing places gather or loose in imp ...
W4339
24.05.2011
On Loan - Julie Rafalski
WWW
On Loan Proposal: The entire collection of copies (222 books) of Thomas More’s Utopia that belong to the British Library will be borrowed for a given time period.* All copies of the book will be physically removed from the library on a given ...
On Loan Proposal: The entire collection of copies (222 books) of Thomas More’s Utopia that belong to the British Library will be borrowed for a given time period.* All copies of the book will be physically removed from the library on a given ...
W5344
18.10.2012
Lito Kattou & Leontios Toumpouris
WWW
The artist in his effort to acquire conscience of his identity addresses to the Other. The elliptic dimension of the Other does not induce the desired result, the fulfillment, the coverage of the void. He becomes aware of his inability to realize this des ...
The artist in his effort to acquire conscience of his identity addresses to the Other. The elliptic dimension of the Other does not induce the desired result, the fulfillment, the coverage of the void. He becomes aware of his inability to realize this des ...
W3870
19.05.2011
Small room of expression - erik mavrič
WWW
Description of the project The idea of the project is making structures that are based on the interference between the flat surface and light source. An intense light will be directed at the surface which will be positioned against the wall. The projec ...
Description of the project The idea of the project is making structures that are based on the interference between the flat surface and light source. An intense light will be directed at the surface which will be positioned against the wall. The projec ...
W10876
12.02.2015
Walking (Autonomous) Sculpture - Genco Gulan
WWW
I am interested in making moving (autonomous) sculptures with real robots. I did worked with some other different kinds of robots and got a prize with them at EMAF in 2005 as part of a larger project . But they were smaller, and theri walking, moving capa ...
I am interested in making moving (autonomous) sculptures with real robots. I did worked with some other different kinds of robots and got a prize with them at EMAF in 2005 as part of a larger project . But they were smaller, and theri walking, moving capa ...
W4399
25.05.2011
Go Find me a Boy - Mansha Chhatwal
WWW
I, Mansha Chhatwal, am an artist with a background in advertising. After a 15 year stint in advertising, during which I worked in several agencies including Rediffusion Y&R, Bates India, Everest brand communications and Mudra DDB , I quit finally about a ...
I, Mansha Chhatwal, am an artist with a background in advertising. After a 15 year stint in advertising, during which I worked in several agencies including Rediffusion Y&R, Bates India, Everest brand communications and Mudra DDB , I quit finally about a ...
W5438
20.10.2012
Smuggling Pomegranate Pavilion (SPP) - Mo Abd-Ulla
WWW
It is a multifaceted programme working with and around cultural practice in the Middle East and North Africa. SPP consists of exhibitions, projects, performances, lectures, discussions, and new techniques for mediating the public’s reactions to art and ...
It is a multifaceted programme working with and around cultural practice in the Middle East and North Africa. SPP consists of exhibitions, projects, performances, lectures, discussions, and new techniques for mediating the public’s reactions to art and ...
W3711
17.05.2011
Place Jacques-Cartier, Montréal 1990 (with Tony Fretton) - Mark Pimlott
WWW
This project proposed a monumental surface for Place Jacques-Cartier that resembled the streets an unconscious places that were typical of Montréal’s topography. The ground was conceived of as a portion of the granite shield that the city is built on, ...
This project proposed a monumental surface for Place Jacques-Cartier that resembled the streets an unconscious places that were typical of Montréal’s topography. The ground was conceived of as a portion of the granite shield that the city is built on, ...
W3606
13.05.2011
Recent Work Not Done - Buzz Spector
WWW
Date: 13 May 2011 To: The Agency of Unrealized Projects From: Buzz Spector RE: Recent Work Not Done My unrealized project is an artists’ book compilation of every artmaking idea or curatorial proposition I have had since 1972, but which ...
Date: 13 May 2011 To: The Agency of Unrealized Projects From: Buzz Spector RE: Recent Work Not Done My unrealized project is an artists’ book compilation of every artmaking idea or curatorial proposition I have had since 1972, but which ...
W4208
24.05.2011
One-way toilet - Will Foster
WWW
One-way toilet. Shitting in the street. 2001 A toilet for public use is sited in an inner city location. The walls of the toilet are made entirely from Pellicle mirror glass, which is partially reflective and partially transparent. ...
One-way toilet. Shitting in the street. 2001 A toilet for public use is sited in an inner city location. The walls of the toilet are made entirely from Pellicle mirror glass, which is partially reflective and partially transparent. ...
W10869
18.01.2015
Jeux de société - André Guiboux
WWW
Call for proposal Protocol implementation : 1 : divert one crane. 2 : divert a police car equipped with a beacon. 3 : assemble the grapple crane car. 4 : the crane to rotate continuously and activate flashing lights police car. 5 : demanding ...
Call for proposal Protocol implementation : 1 : divert one crane. 2 : divert a police car equipped with a beacon. 3 : assemble the grapple crane car. 4 : the crane to rotate continuously and activate flashing lights police car. 5 : demanding ...
W4219
24.05.2011
I dream of you - Costa Vece
WWW
I would like to install a neon writing work with the sentence; I dream of you on the roof of the building, 4 avenue Henri Dunant, Plaine de Plainpalais in Geneva. The text of “ I dream of you “ should present the following ideas, imaginations an ...
I would like to install a neon writing work with the sentence; I dream of you on the roof of the building, 4 avenue Henri Dunant, Plaine de Plainpalais in Geneva. The text of “ I dream of you “ should present the following ideas, imaginations an ...
W3692
16.05.2011
The Rings - Alastair Noble & Kathy Bruce
WWW
Alastair Noble & Kathy Bruce 2010 Project Title - The Rings – Intent: To create an iconic and poetic symbol that will represent Lancaster, The Poetry Paths Project and the history, culture and diverse peoples of Lancaster. Summary: A sculpture ...
Alastair Noble & Kathy Bruce 2010 Project Title - The Rings – Intent: To create an iconic and poetic symbol that will represent Lancaster, The Poetry Paths Project and the history, culture and diverse peoples of Lancaster. Summary: A sculpture ...
W3501
11.05.2011
The Replacement Weather - Rebecca Hackemann
WWW
The Replacement Weather consists of replacement clouds for replacement weather, consisting of sculptural light installation. In case the real clouds become defunct, obsolete or unusable, I am proposing a quasi spoof proposal format of a light and sculptur ...
The Replacement Weather consists of replacement clouds for replacement weather, consisting of sculptural light installation. In case the real clouds become defunct, obsolete or unusable, I am proposing a quasi spoof proposal format of a light and sculptur ...
W5136
19.09.2012
Cormac McCarthy Searching - Rick Martin
WWW
CORMAC McCARTHY SEARCHING In the winter of 1999 I was artist in residence at BEMIS CCA in Omaha Nebraska. I travelled to El Paso to meet the writer Cormac McCarthy, The WWW informed me he ate breakfast at Furrs every day. At Furrs I was told they didn't. ...
CORMAC McCARTHY SEARCHING In the winter of 1999 I was artist in residence at BEMIS CCA in Omaha Nebraska. I travelled to El Paso to meet the writer Cormac McCarthy, The WWW informed me he ate breakfast at Furrs every day. At Furrs I was told they didn't. ...
W4888
10.08.2012
Replay - Warren Neidich
WWW
Replay Introduction: The word Replay takes its name from the phenomena usually associated with sporting events, for instance football matches, in which a replay of a fabulous and exciting goal is projected upon a large digital screen in full view of ...
Replay Introduction: The word Replay takes its name from the phenomena usually associated with sporting events, for instance football matches, in which a replay of a fabulous and exciting goal is projected upon a large digital screen in full view of ...
W3873
19.05.2011
CHINATOWN RUN - Derek Michael Besant
WWW
Project: CHINATOWN RUN Client: City of Calgary Development Dept. / Canada Date: 2010 Retrofit of elements into existing Centre Street Chinatown District of Calgary Alberta Canada. The idea was to enhance the 3 blocks along Centre Street with t ...
Project: CHINATOWN RUN Client: City of Calgary Development Dept. / Canada Date: 2010 Retrofit of elements into existing Centre Street Chinatown District of Calgary Alberta Canada. The idea was to enhance the 3 blocks along Centre Street with t ...
W4835
08.08.2012
Zipper Chairs - Tricia McLaughlin
WWW
ZIPPER CHAIRS With Zipper Chairs , I am playing with the interaction of natural design and human logic. The structures we live in, whether natural, invented, physical or cultural, all affect our behavior. The idea for Zipper Chairs came from my fascina ...
ZIPPER CHAIRS With Zipper Chairs , I am playing with the interaction of natural design and human logic. The structures we live in, whether natural, invented, physical or cultural, all affect our behavior. The idea for Zipper Chairs came from my fascina ...
W4428
25.05.2011
The architectural charter - Philippe Rahm
WWW
The architectural charter Project for Vassivière, France From 2003 All the territory of Vassivière, France ...
The architectural charter Project for Vassivière, France From 2003 All the territory of Vassivière, France ...
W3691
16.05.2011
Rolf Hinterecker
WWW
The train will be fixed in a steal frame construction Most of the complex construction is placed under the water surface. Counterbalances in the cube are needed for the balance. Several boom supports floating short above the ground will protect an overset ...
The train will be fixed in a steal frame construction Most of the complex construction is placed under the water surface. Counterbalances in the cube are needed for the balance. Several boom supports floating short above the ground will protect an overset ...
W4855
08.08.2012
A kiss on Leyli's Navel - Neda Tavallaee
WWW
This is a work that emphasizes on telling the life story of an Iranian woman through the use of the Chador,which is a traditional islamic covering. Proposal Title:A kiss on Leyli's navel.(The birth,life and death of an Iranian woman) I would like to e ...
This is a work that emphasizes on telling the life story of an Iranian woman through the use of the Chador,which is a traditional islamic covering. Proposal Title:A kiss on Leyli's navel.(The birth,life and death of an Iranian woman) I would like to e ...