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.

Monumento all'agricoltura 1969-70 - Alighiero Boetti

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

A House of Dust - Alison Knowles

Grand Concours International D'Architecture  - Mahe Gilles

Ceinture - Huang Ping Yong

"Free Space" - Michelangelo Pistoletto

"400" - Manfred Pernice

Unrealized Projects - Jonas Meckas

Messages to the Public - Nancy Spero

Isometric Projection - Sol Lewitt

Agency of Unrealised Projects
Logo by Liam Gillick
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Date
Title
Source
Description
Tags
W5054
03.09.2012
Parish in Lezkairu - Taller Basico de Arquitectura [TBA]
WWW
Parish in Lezkairu (2011) The building takes an "L" form, as it differentiates two principal zones: the temple, which occupies one side of the "L", and the rooms and housings, that occupy the other side. Both areas coexist in a strong and unified image ...
Parish in Lezkairu (2011) The building takes an "L" form, as it differentiates two principal zones: the temple, which occupies one side of the "L", and the rooms and housings, that occupy the other side. Both areas coexist in a strong and unified image ...
W4722
26.05.2011
Broc Blegen
WWW
This is a proposal for a people's memorial in response to Hurricane Katrina, in which absurdly tall sandbag walls are built around important US flag poles across the city. The sandbags would be filled and stacked by each local community during day-long.. ...
This is a proposal for a people's memorial in response to Hurricane Katrina, in which absurdly tall sandbag walls are built around important US flag poles across the city. The sandbags would be filled and stacked by each local community during day-long.. ...
W4077
23.05.2011
The Museum of Patheticness - Sadie Hennessy
WWW
A short proposal for Matt's Gallery entitled 'The Museum of Patheticness' THE MUSEUM OF PATHETICNESS It has been a long held ambition of mine to establish a Museum of Patheticness. My interest in the idea of patheticness was kindled by my sightings ...
A short proposal for Matt's Gallery entitled 'The Museum of Patheticness' THE MUSEUM OF PATHETICNESS It has been a long held ambition of mine to establish a Museum of Patheticness. My interest in the idea of patheticness was kindled by my sightings ...
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 ...
W4056
23.05.2011
pencil drawings on paper by Jack Kirby and Thom of Finland - Paul Beuchat
WWW
Exhibition of pencil drawings on paper by Jack Kirby and Thom of Finland focusing on images that are similar in form, material and subject matter - muscular men in uniform - to expose the drawn line as a perfect mirror of the maker, independently of form ...
Exhibition of pencil drawings on paper by Jack Kirby and Thom of Finland focusing on images that are similar in form, material and subject matter - muscular men in uniform - to expose the drawn line as a perfect mirror of the maker, independently of form ...
W3895
20.05.2011
Editorial Sculpture: Divina Commedia  - Javier Toro Blum
WWW
The Divina Commedia triptych is a sculpture project, consisting in three ovoid metal cast pieces. Each piece has engraved in low relief (1.5mm) one part of the Dante Alighieri's Divina Commedia: Inferno, Purgatorio and Paradiso. With a 2.5mm typography ev ...
The Divina Commedia triptych is a sculpture project, consisting in three ovoid metal cast pieces. Each piece has engraved in low relief (1.5mm) one part of the Dante Alighieri's Divina Commedia: Inferno, Purgatorio and Paradiso. With a 2.5mm typography ev ...
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 ...
W3568
12.05.2011
The Pantheon 2001 - Julianna Balogh
WWW
Concept: to create a Pantheon for women of the 21st century and dedicate the building to Hillary Clinton because I see it as an artist that in this moment of history the world needs women, the caretakers, as leaders who can "connect the dots". The buil ...
Concept: to create a Pantheon for women of the 21st century and dedicate the building to Hillary Clinton because I see it as an artist that in this moment of history the world needs women, the caretakers, as leaders who can "connect the dots". The buil ...
W3787
18.05.2011
diSTRUKTURA
WWW
We would like to propose a situation in which we would place a landscape of a proposed city surrounding area under video surveillance. We are MA’s of Departments of Painting, Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Arts, Belgrade. We live in Belgrade, S ...
We would like to propose a situation in which we would place a landscape of a proposed city surrounding area under video surveillance. We are MA’s of Departments of Painting, Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Arts, Belgrade. We live in Belgrade, S ...
W4445
25.05.2011
THE MODERN VERSION OF NOAH’S ARK - Birgitte Katborg Laursen
WWW
THE MODERN VERSION OF NOAH’S ARK In 2003-2005, ÖO’K Aquatic Structures AB (www.ook.se) designed a technologically advanced, sustainable houseboat prototype. The superstructure of the houseboat was designed in collaboration with the engineering f ...
THE MODERN VERSION OF NOAH’S ARK In 2003-2005, ÖO’K Aquatic Structures AB (www.ook.se) designed a technologically advanced, sustainable houseboat prototype. The superstructure of the houseboat was designed in collaboration with the engineering f ...
W4068
23.05.2011
Alishia Duncanson
WWW
Title: “Mission Impossible 1” Materials: Wood and M.D.F board Corridor space containing 5- 20 drawings in space, creating semi obstructed spaces to be engaged with by the viewer. The work asks the viewer to investigate both space and time as each ...
Title: “Mission Impossible 1” Materials: Wood and M.D.F board Corridor space containing 5- 20 drawings in space, creating semi obstructed spaces to be engaged with by the viewer. The work asks the viewer to investigate both space and time as each ...
W11050
01.06.2016
B R E A T H E - Acrylicize
WWW
‘Breathe’ intrinsically tells the unique story about the new St Mary’s Square Development, reflecting its past and celebrating the character of the area. This forward thinking modern artistic sculpture is artistically progressive in nature. It creat ...
‘Breathe’ intrinsically tells the unique story about the new St Mary’s Square Development, reflecting its past and celebrating the character of the area. This forward thinking modern artistic sculpture is artistically progressive in nature. It creat ...
W4558
25.05.2011
rezaafsari
WWW
W4687
26.05.2011
August Ventimiglia
WWW
An action to be executed in a large open area. "Common red building brick units stacked then tossed outward to form scatter -- stacked units at center -- scatter dissipates. Survey grid laid over scatter. Create drawings of scatter then collect bricks at ...
An action to be executed in a large open area. "Common red building brick units stacked then tossed outward to form scatter -- stacked units at center -- scatter dissipates. Survey grid laid over scatter. Create drawings of scatter then collect bricks at ...
W5197
02.10.2012
Spiti - Maria Karametou
WWW
In recent times, as the urban landscape changes under the socioeconomic impact of migration and the breaking down of borders, and as uniformity precipitates a loss of individual identity and character, there is a continual process of definition and redefi ...
In recent times, as the urban landscape changes under the socioeconomic impact of migration and the breaking down of borders, and as uniformity precipitates a loss of individual identity and character, there is a continual process of definition and redefi ...
W4189
24.05.2011
“What It’s Gonna Take“ - Anne Herzblut
WWW
“What It’s Gonna Take“ An installation about death, time and consumption The initial point fort this installation are thoughts about a very common place: about my own death. The question is: HOW MANY things and HOW MUCH I will need until I die ...
“What It’s Gonna Take“ An installation about death, time and consumption The initial point fort this installation are thoughts about a very common place: about my own death. The question is: HOW MANY things and HOW MUCH I will need until I die ...
W4720
26.05.2011
Matthew-Robin Nye
WWW
1 – Islington Mill, Manchester. Submitted April 11 2011. Declined May 12 2011 To the Residency Awards Committee at the Islington Mill, Manchester: Thank you for taking the time to review my application for a 4-6 week Artist Residency at the Islingto ...
1 – Islington Mill, Manchester. Submitted April 11 2011. Declined May 12 2011 To the Residency Awards Committee at the Islington Mill, Manchester: Thank you for taking the time to review my application for a 4-6 week Artist Residency at the Islingto ...
W4146
23.05.2011
Art School - Cornford & Cross
WWW
Art School would have occupied the Chisenhale Gallery, London, for one month to facilitate an explicit and implicit enquiry into notions of the art school. With contributions from artists, writers and curators, the project would have encouraged participa ...
Art School would have occupied the Chisenhale Gallery, London, for one month to facilitate an explicit and implicit enquiry into notions of the art school. With contributions from artists, writers and curators, the project would have encouraged participa ...
W3587
13.05.2011
Christopher Otto
WWW
In 2001, when I was 23, I attempted to make a computer art program which would dial each entry in Wittgenstein's Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus as a phone number and speak the line to whomever picked up. I was accepted to present it at a few events, but w ...
In 2001, when I was 23, I attempted to make a computer art program which would dial each entry in Wittgenstein's Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus as a phone number and speak the line to whomever picked up. I was accepted to present it at a few events, but w ...
W4467
25.05.2011
ExpErimEnts and obsErvations - hanna husberg
WWW
ExpErimEnts and obsErvations on diffErEnt kinds of air The project introduces a canalization of tubes with inhalers connected to N2O gas tanks at some public spaces as the auditorium of a theatre or a metro train. Experiments and observations on differe ...
ExpErimEnts and obsErvations on diffErEnt kinds of air The project introduces a canalization of tubes with inhalers connected to N2O gas tanks at some public spaces as the auditorium of a theatre or a metro train. Experiments and observations on differe ...
W4793
13.06.2011
Between, Between, no More and Drink a Chair - Natalie Bell
WWW
This is a consciously utopian project aiming to create a very accessible and affordable pocket-sized handbook of English for Spanish-speaking immigrants in New York City. SEE PDF ...
This is a consciously utopian project aiming to create a very accessible and affordable pocket-sized handbook of English for Spanish-speaking immigrants in New York City. SEE PDF ...
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 ...
W5257
12.10.2012
Unseen Connections - Andrei Sidorkin
WWW
This is a project concerning social and institutional critique both. It is the play with the problem of localization of the place where art should happen, but suddenly it appears in another place than it was expected. And also this project reveals conform ...
This is a project concerning social and institutional critique both. It is the play with the problem of localization of the place where art should happen, but suddenly it appears in another place than it was expected. And also this project reveals conform ...
W5469
21.10.2012
Mimicry - DAMIAN IORDANOV
WWW
Temporary Public Sculpture: Park Avenue Malls The Fund for Park Avenue and The City of New York’s Department of Parks and Recreation, Public Art Program The Park Avenue malls, on New York City’s upper eastside Mimicry unrealized project intend ...
Temporary Public Sculpture: Park Avenue Malls The Fund for Park Avenue and The City of New York’s Department of Parks and Recreation, Public Art Program The Park Avenue malls, on New York City’s upper eastside Mimicry unrealized project intend ...
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 ...
W5238
09.10.2012
Nicole De Brabandere
WWW
AUP - Berliner Künstlerprogramm/ DAAD Nicole De Brabandere In 2009 I put in motion the possibility of amassing all of the doorknobs from an institutional building that was slated for demolition. After many phone calls to various authorities I disco ...
AUP - Berliner Künstlerprogramm/ DAAD Nicole De Brabandere In 2009 I put in motion the possibility of amassing all of the doorknobs from an institutional building that was slated for demolition. After many phone calls to various authorities I disco ...