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.

Engel-Detektor - Jakob Gautel & Jason Karaïndros

2 Architecture Towers - Robert Irwin

Time Magazine Cover - Robert Rauschenberg

Fax Transmission - Raymond Pettibone and Jason Rhoades

Passage - Richard Wentworth

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

654 THINGS from The United States - Edward Ruscha

Attitudine Diplomatica - Hermann Pitz

Relatum (Iron Plate and Stone) - Lee Ufan

Memorial - Ilya Kabakov

Agency of Unrealised Projects
Logo by Liam Gillick
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Date
Title
Source
Description
Tags
W4703
26.05.2011
Sterling Crispin
WWW
My project involves a globally connected network of participants wearing EEG brain-computer interfaces. By displaying the average of thousands of live readings back to the participants their minds will slowly become closer to the average. Emerging brai ...
My project involves a globally connected network of participants wearing EEG brain-computer interfaces. By displaying the average of thousands of live readings back to the participants their minds will slowly become closer to the average. Emerging brai ...
W4962
21.08.2012
Erehaag (double row) - Art Van Triest
WWW
interactive double row (dutch: erehaag) http://youtu.be/zocvP7KFWmE ...
interactive double row (dutch: erehaag) http://youtu.be/zocvP7KFWmE ...
W3622
14.05.2011
SIGHT UNSEEN - Marcy B. Freedman
WWW
“Message to curators: Whatever you’re doing right now, do something else next.” Roberta Smith (New York Times, February 14, 2010) THE CONCEPT: SIGHT UNSEEN is intended to challenge traditional notions of curatorial practice. The project establis ...
“Message to curators: Whatever you’re doing right now, do something else next.” Roberta Smith (New York Times, February 14, 2010) THE CONCEPT: SIGHT UNSEEN is intended to challenge traditional notions of curatorial practice. The project establis ...
W3919
20.05.2011
Art at the service of … Short history - Alina and Jeff Bliumis
WWW
2010-present “Art at the service of …,Short history”- a series of 5-7 sculptures represents monuments that were destroyed at various times around the world. Each sculpture consists of a scaled down replica of a monument on a pedestal. A short not ...
2010-present “Art at the service of …,Short history”- a series of 5-7 sculptures represents monuments that were destroyed at various times around the world. Each sculpture consists of a scaled down replica of a monument on a pedestal. A short not ...
W5037
01.09.2012
Cultivating the Field of the Absurd - Barbara Nemitz
WWW
Title: " Cultivating the Field of the Absurd" The work is to be made in the landscape. In an open part with a large plain - some shrubberies and trees may be around - an extensive embroidery is to be seen on the ground. It is made out of silky shimmer ...
Title: " Cultivating the Field of the Absurd" The work is to be made in the landscape. In an open part with a large plain - some shrubberies and trees may be around - an extensive embroidery is to be seen on the ground. It is made out of silky shimmer ...
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 ...
W4666
25.05.2011
Carlos Lérias
WWW
The fragments presented here by the Migratory Museum, are the parts of a live cast mask of my face. Moved on in one hand by the incessant obsession with disappearance, invisibility, forgetfulness and nomadism, and on the other hand by the museum’s troub ...
The fragments presented here by the Migratory Museum, are the parts of a live cast mask of my face. Moved on in one hand by the incessant obsession with disappearance, invisibility, forgetfulness and nomadism, and on the other hand by the museum’s troub ...
W10481
28.04.2014
The Geese of Feliferhof - Esther Shalev-Gerz with Jochen Gerz
WWW
Graz, Austria In 1996, Esther Shalev-Gerz and Jochen Gerz won an international competition launched by the Austrian government to pay tribute to those who opposed the Nazi regime. The artists proposed installing four white flags carrying red inscriptio ...
Graz, Austria In 1996, Esther Shalev-Gerz and Jochen Gerz won an international competition launched by the Austrian government to pay tribute to those who opposed the Nazi regime. The artists proposed installing four white flags carrying red inscriptio ...
W4306
24.05.2011
LOVE IS IN THE AIR - Zilvinas Kempinas + Architect Bettina Zerza
WWW
LOVE IS IN THE AIR Im Jahr 1960 beschrieb Neil Armstrong, der erste Mensch auf dem Mond, aus dem Fenster seines Raumschiffs die Erde als „eine große blaue Murmel“. Ort Die Fluggastbrücke ist ein O ...
LOVE IS IN THE AIR Im Jahr 1960 beschrieb Neil Armstrong, der erste Mensch auf dem Mond, aus dem Fenster seines Raumschiffs die Erde als „eine große blaue Murmel“. Ort Die Fluggastbrücke ist ein O ...
W5441
20.10.2012
Sp@rt - Mo Abd-Ulla
WWW
Sp@rt is a multifaceted programme set within inspiration of London 2012 Olympic games. It consists of urban interventions within the city of London, exhibition, performances, lectures, discussions, and new techniques for mediating the public’s reactions ...
Sp@rt is a multifaceted programme set within inspiration of London 2012 Olympic games. It consists of urban interventions within the city of London, exhibition, performances, lectures, discussions, and new techniques for mediating the public’s reactions ...
W3793
18.05.2011
Bathhaus - Guillermo Creus
WWW
This project was originally submitted to De Appel Curatorial Programme and was rejected in its original format (my original idea was to have the project proposal to be the project in itself). Freida Abtan, Peter Dobill and Aïda Ruilova. Curated by ...
This project was originally submitted to De Appel Curatorial Programme and was rejected in its original format (my original idea was to have the project proposal to be the project in itself). Freida Abtan, Peter Dobill and Aïda Ruilova. Curated by ...
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. ...
W4938
19.08.2012
You Are Here - Silvio Valpreda
WWW
Silvio Valpreda impossible art project YOU ARE HERE Kibera - Nairobi (Kenya) Statements Slum A slum, as defined by the United Nations agency UNHABITAT, is a run-down area of a city characterized by substandard housing and squalor and lacking i ...
Silvio Valpreda impossible art project YOU ARE HERE Kibera - Nairobi (Kenya) Statements Slum A slum, as defined by the United Nations agency UNHABITAT, is a run-down area of a city characterized by substandard housing and squalor and lacking i ...
W3931
20.05.2011
Random Identity Forum (“RIF”) - ANNA LASCARI
WWW
The “Identity Flag” can be reviewed at: www.annalascari.net/RIF Project Description “RIF” (Random Identity Forum) is an interactive installation that allows users to participate in and comment on the political and socio-economic policie ...
The “Identity Flag” can be reviewed at: www.annalascari.net/RIF Project Description “RIF” (Random Identity Forum) is an interactive installation that allows users to participate in and comment on the political and socio-economic policie ...
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 ...
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 ...
W3853
19.05.2011
Identity Correlations - Yu-Hang Huang
WWW
“Identity Correlations” is a series of documentaries of my journey while wearing various houses in different environments and searching for a place to fit in. ...
“Identity Correlations” is a series of documentaries of my journey while wearing various houses in different environments and searching for a place to fit in. ...
W4045
22.05.2011
Bag - Ellie Brown
WWW
I have been collecting the contents of peoples' bags, purses, backpacks, etc. for the past 18 months as part of the BAG project. http://elliebrown.com/section/94108_BAG.html I would like to display all 144 bag of what people were willing to part with. ...
I have been collecting the contents of peoples' bags, purses, backpacks, etc. for the past 18 months as part of the BAG project. http://elliebrown.com/section/94108_BAG.html I would like to display all 144 bag of what people were willing to part with. ...
W4048
22.05.2011
NESTED VOIDS: LA GROTTE DU MAS D’AZIL - Bradley Pitts
WWW
Unrealized Proposal for NESTED VOIDS: LA GROTTE DU MAS D’AZIL
 Bradley Pitts, 2010 The cave of Le Mas-d'Azil (la grotte du Mas d'Azil), FR, was one of the first prehistoric caves to yield evidence of human habitation. Its main feature is a 500-met ...
Unrealized Proposal for NESTED VOIDS: LA GROTTE DU MAS D’AZIL
 Bradley Pitts, 2010 The cave of Le Mas-d'Azil (la grotte du Mas d'Azil), FR, was one of the first prehistoric caves to yield evidence of human habitation. Its main feature is a 500-met ...
W3674
15.05.2011
The Warhol Machine - Johanna Thompson
WWW
The Warhol Machine is a mechanism that will bring 15 minutes of fame to everyone. It is an installation in Times Square, New York City, consisting of a video camera in a booth, a visitor inside the booth and in front of the camera and the already installe ...
The Warhol Machine is a mechanism that will bring 15 minutes of fame to everyone. It is an installation in Times Square, New York City, consisting of a video camera in a booth, a visitor inside the booth and in front of the camera and the already installe ...
W4424
25.05.2011
Brianne Mackinnon
WWW
To extend the concepts of primary and secondary information associated to the distribution of conceptual art in the 1960's, an exhibition invitation will be distributed with the image of text through skywriting, "Opening Event, April 30, 6pm". When attend ...
To extend the concepts of primary and secondary information associated to the distribution of conceptual art in the 1960's, an exhibition invitation will be distributed with the image of text through skywriting, "Opening Event, April 30, 6pm". When attend ...
W4647
25.05.2011
Este No Es Refugio Para Jornaleros - Jenny Polak
WWW
Este No Es Refugio Para Jornaleros A 2008 proposal for Corona Plaza, Queens, by Jenny Polak Invited by the Queens Museum of Art. The 103 st. 7 station connects Corona to the train known by some as the Immigrant Express. I want to put a small camoufla ...
Este No Es Refugio Para Jornaleros A 2008 proposal for Corona Plaza, Queens, by Jenny Polak Invited by the Queens Museum of Art. The 103 st. 7 station connects Corona to the train known by some as the Immigrant Express. I want to put a small camoufla ...
W3826
19.05.2011
CrossSpot  - Tomasz Domanski
WWW
The work I called CrossSpot is a new project . I will try to place it outdoor in the town (Wroclaw) in the area of so called four temples. In one city district there are situated one synagogue, one orthodox Russian, catholic and protestant churches. ...
The work I called CrossSpot is a new project . I will try to place it outdoor in the town (Wroclaw) in the area of so called four temples. In one city district there are situated one synagogue, one orthodox Russian, catholic and protestant churches. ...
W5337
18.10.2012
how to recall what never happened
WWW
The idea stem from Lis’81 – The International Drawing Biennale of Lisbon, which was expected to take place at the National Gallery of Modern Art of Belém, but ended up consumed in a fire, during its installation, the only thing left is the catalogue. ...
The idea stem from Lis’81 – The International Drawing Biennale of Lisbon, which was expected to take place at the National Gallery of Modern Art of Belém, but ended up consumed in a fire, during its installation, the only thing left is the catalogue. ...
U9660
01.01.1995
Double Exposure 1995-6  - Dan Graham
Unbuilt Roads
This pavilion is enterable through a sliding 2-way mirror door in one side, is sited in a landscape with some trees, a large visible vista. The 4m x 4m x 4m pavilion has two 2-way mirror sides. The third side is a cibachrome transparency which shows th ...
This pavilion is enterable through a sliding 2-way mirror door in one side, is sited in a landscape with some trees, a large visible vista. The 4m x 4m x 4m pavilion has two 2-way mirror sides. The third side is a cibachrome transparency which shows th ...
W3495
11.05.2011
Recipes for Disaster - Joy Garnett
WWW
Joy Garnett Recipes for Disaster Real recipes with humorous (dark), brief but informative essays. Cautionary tales, food chain fables. Dorothy Parker meets M.F.K. Fisher's How to Cook a Wolf in a Bruce Sterlingesque post-apocalyptic future. Heston B ...
Joy Garnett Recipes for Disaster Real recipes with humorous (dark), brief but informative essays. Cautionary tales, food chain fables. Dorothy Parker meets M.F.K. Fisher's How to Cook a Wolf in a Bruce Sterlingesque post-apocalyptic future. Heston B ...