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.

119. PROJET DE DESTRUCTION DU MUSEE 1970 - 1971 - Jef Geys

MODELL OF AN OFFICE FOR A COUPLE OF TWINS, BOTH 1,38 TALL" - Tobias Rehrenberg

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

Brücke Wein-Kanal Arch. Hermann Czech, Wein - Franz West

Isometric Projection - Sol Lewitt

Financial Times Millennium Bridge Competition - Richard Serra and Frank Gehry

Attitudine Diplomatica - Hermann Pitz

Der New-Babyloner - Constant

Entwurf für einen erneuerten Malkasten 1992 - 1994 - Ulrike Holthöfer

Uncompleted 1966 - and on  - John Armleder

Agency of Unrealised Projects
Logo by Liam Gillick
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Date
Title
Source
Description
Tags
W3903
20.05.2011
A dream finds the way - Новогребельская Мария
WWW
Artist’s Statement “A dream finds the way” A.S.Grin “Movement” Once I realized that I am near the truth and this made me free. It is the best if one does in his life something that brings pleasure, what interesting is. ...
Artist’s Statement “A dream finds the way” A.S.Grin “Movement” Once I realized that I am near the truth and this made me free. It is the best if one does in his life something that brings pleasure, what interesting is. ...
W4093
23.05.2011
UNREALIZEABLE PROJECT A000005 - Stefano W. Pasquini
WWW
UNREALIZEABLE PROJECT A000005: dealing with the memory of the Desaparecidos of Argentina. ...
UNREALIZEABLE PROJECT A000005: dealing with the memory of the Desaparecidos of Argentina. ...
W3525
11.05.2011
Paper Wave - Tilly Shiner
WWW
Drawing for a human- scale wave, made from paper and biro pen. Using only the pressure of the pen to induce sculptural form from a flat surface. Referencing a common motif of the sublime, this work suggests something ordinary with extraordinar ...
Drawing for a human- scale wave, made from paper and biro pen. Using only the pressure of the pen to induce sculptural form from a flat surface. Referencing a common motif of the sublime, this work suggests something ordinary with extraordinar ...
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 ...
W10660
10.08.2014
Condensed Playground: Le Pendu femelle, "Underskirt (detail)" as Postpartum Uterus Involution - Sheridan Lowrey
WWW
A commercial metal swing set (with one swing on center) and three-row aluminum bleachers in close proximity. Swing orientation is bi-directional. The piece should include a performance reenacting the dynamics of Fragonard's The Swing, 1767, and Duchamp's ...
A commercial metal swing set (with one swing on center) and three-row aluminum bleachers in close proximity. Swing orientation is bi-directional. The piece should include a performance reenacting the dynamics of Fragonard's The Swing, 1767, and Duchamp's ...
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 ...
W5068
05.09.2012
White Blood Cells - Bodino Philippe
WWW
multi-artistic performance uses several field such as live painting, video, dance, live music, improvisation. ...
multi-artistic performance uses several field such as live painting, video, dance, live music, improvisation. ...
W3995
21.05.2011
Action Pants Proposal for Off the Strip - Cindy Rehm
WWW
Rejected proposal "Action Pants" for Off the Strip at the Contemporary Art Center, Las Vegas. Action Pants Proposal for Off the Strip Contemporary Art Center, Las Vegas February 2009 In 1968, artist Valie Export performed her work Action Pants ...
Rejected proposal "Action Pants" for Off the Strip at the Contemporary Art Center, Las Vegas. Action Pants Proposal for Off the Strip Contemporary Art Center, Las Vegas February 2009 In 1968, artist Valie Export performed her work Action Pants ...
W4598
25.05.2011
Fitting Through A Hole - Michael Arata
WWW
Fitting Through A Hole The work allows the viewer to interpret the larger form as penetrating the hole in the lid of a five gallon paint bucket or alternately being secreted into the bucket. Michael Arata, 2004 ...
Fitting Through A Hole The work allows the viewer to interpret the larger form as penetrating the hole in the lid of a five gallon paint bucket or alternately being secreted into the bucket. Michael Arata, 2004 ...
W5064
04.09.2012
SolarCircuit RAYsponse  - c a l c (omi - Thomas Scheiderbauer)
WWW
SolarCircuit RAYsponse is a project with the aim to let the façade of an institution (= a meaning charged façade) express itself in the public environment. its two architectonic/technical elements consist of a solar panel and a proportional related ima ...
SolarCircuit RAYsponse is a project with the aim to let the façade of an institution (= a meaning charged façade) express itself in the public environment. its two architectonic/technical elements consist of a solar panel and a proportional related ima ...
W4061
23.05.2011
andreas guibert
WWW
The King of the changing faces Photo installation ...
The King of the changing faces Photo installation ...
W5016
30.08.2012
TOTEM WAR - WHEN ARCHITECTURE BECOMES RIVAL CLANS’ BATTLEFIELD - Martial MARQUET
WWW
TOTEM WAR - WHEN ARCHITECTURE BECOMES RIVAL CLANS’ BATTLEFIELD autors : Louisa Gouesnard, Martial Marquet, Nicolas Polaert. date : Jan 2011 Place : Sliznevo, RUSSIA. Dimensions : variables Materials : Wood/Steel What is happening in Sliznevo ? ...
TOTEM WAR - WHEN ARCHITECTURE BECOMES RIVAL CLANS’ BATTLEFIELD autors : Louisa Gouesnard, Martial Marquet, Nicolas Polaert. date : Jan 2011 Place : Sliznevo, RUSSIA. Dimensions : variables Materials : Wood/Steel What is happening in Sliznevo ? ...
W4228
24.05.2011
Sacred Sister - Bettina WitteVeen
WWW
Sacred Sister by Bettina WitteVeen GLOSSARY AMAZONS: Society of women warriors whose kingdom was believed to be to the north of the civilized world and who tolerated men only as servants or as father of female children. They cut off one breast i ...
Sacred Sister by Bettina WitteVeen GLOSSARY AMAZONS: Society of women warriors whose kingdom was believed to be to the north of the civilized world and who tolerated men only as servants or as father of female children. They cut off one breast i ...
W10273
10.04.2014
Monument to the Iraq War Dead - Scott Sorli
WWW
Conservative estimates are that over one hundred thousand men, women, and children died in the Iraq War. Weapons of mass destruction that were used as justification for this illegal war were launched by the Americans and the British forces themselves. The ...
Conservative estimates are that over one hundred thousand men, women, and children died in the Iraq War. Weapons of mass destruction that were used as justification for this illegal war were launched by the Americans and the British forces themselves. The ...
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 ...
W4748
27.05.2011
Retail Therapy - Double A Projects (A. Robles & A. Stein)
WWW
PROPOSAL Title of project: Retail Therapy By: Athena Robles and Anna Stein (aka Double A Projects) Similar to our public project Global Free Store, Retail Therapy is a non-commercial storefront and exhibition that would offer various service ...
PROPOSAL Title of project: Retail Therapy By: Athena Robles and Anna Stein (aka Double A Projects) Similar to our public project Global Free Store, Retail Therapy is a non-commercial storefront and exhibition that would offer various service ...
W5420
20.10.2012
“These things I do, and shall do, if I can, are no longer, or are not yet, or never were, or never will be, or if they were, if they are, if they will be, were not here, are not here, will not be here, but elsewhere”. - Alessandro Laita
WWW
TITLE “These things I do, and shall do, if I can, are no longer, or are not yet, or never were, or never will be, or if they were, if they are, if they will be, were not here, are not here, will not be here, but elsewhere”. DESCRIPTION The who ...
TITLE “These things I do, and shall do, if I can, are no longer, or are not yet, or never were, or never will be, or if they were, if they are, if they will be, were not here, are not here, will not be here, but elsewhere”. DESCRIPTION The who ...
W3940
20.05.2011
A Drummer's Pavilion - Olivia Booth
WWW
The drummers pavilion is meant to dilate a window plane- in fact wrench it open- and counteract the glib overuse of glass in urban architecture. Glass is a lateral horizon into which we can compose and in this single person pavilion one does just that; id ...
The drummers pavilion is meant to dilate a window plane- in fact wrench it open- and counteract the glib overuse of glass in urban architecture. Glass is a lateral horizon into which we can compose and in this single person pavilion one does just that; id ...
W4535
25.05.2011
A simple videos - Zuzanna Janin
WWW
A simple videos - full of emotions and notice gallery of fantastic masterpieces only described by those who can talk about art from the heart and with the deep knowledge... Until now interviews with a.i.: Anda Rottenberg, Hanna Wroblewska, Andrzej Tu ...
A simple videos - full of emotions and notice gallery of fantastic masterpieces only described by those who can talk about art from the heart and with the deep knowledge... Until now interviews with a.i.: Anda Rottenberg, Hanna Wroblewska, Andrzej Tu ...
W3709
17.05.2011
Temple Grandin - Teodoro Lupo
WWW
During a well and prominently attended vernissage, such as the Art Basel or Frieze opening, nitrous oxide (commonly known as laughing gas) will be poured into the air. Doors will be closed from outside. I (but I'm sure I will easily find some colleagues ...
During a well and prominently attended vernissage, such as the Art Basel or Frieze opening, nitrous oxide (commonly known as laughing gas) will be poured into the air. Doors will be closed from outside. I (but I'm sure I will easily find some colleagues ...
W5251
10.10.2012
Katya Fialkova
WWW
The project was supposed to be a video in which an absurd woman tries to ‘fix’ nature. She puts skirts on trees, makeup on flowers and sunscreen on branches. She throws fabric over a gnarly tree stump to make it ‘prettier’. She measures a wide tre ...
The project was supposed to be a video in which an absurd woman tries to ‘fix’ nature. She puts skirts on trees, makeup on flowers and sunscreen on branches. She throws fabric over a gnarly tree stump to make it ‘prettier’. She measures a wide tre ...
W4069
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 ...
W3514
11.05.2011
“Future Show”  - Alexandra Hopf
WWW
“Future Show” is an ongoing investigation into objects of art that have vanished from the field of vision.  These objects were once housed within the original Future Show in the New York's Museum of Non-Objective Art from November to December of 1 ...
“Future Show” is an ongoing investigation into objects of art that have vanished from the field of vision.  These objects were once housed within the original Future Show in the New York's Museum of Non-Objective Art from November to December of 1 ...
W5403
20.10.2012
L’ARTISTA HA L’ORO IN BOCCA - Isabella Pers
WWW
Isabella Pers L’ARTISTA HA L’ORO IN BOCCA unrealized project For the title I’m referring to the famous phrase 'All Work and No Play Makes Jack a Dull Boy' that appeares in the film The Shining (Kubrick, 1980). The book that Jack was writing co ...
Isabella Pers L’ARTISTA HA L’ORO IN BOCCA unrealized project For the title I’m referring to the famous phrase 'All Work and No Play Makes Jack a Dull Boy' that appeares in the film The Shining (Kubrick, 1980). The book that Jack was writing co ...
W4348
24.05.2011
Safe Haven - Farrell Brickhouse
WWW
Farrell Brickhouse Unrealized Projects The year before 9/11 I was unable to paint in my studio and I made a series of images about The World Trade Center on handy wall calendars. I lived on West Broadway one block north of the colossal buildings that ...
Farrell Brickhouse Unrealized Projects The year before 9/11 I was unable to paint in my studio and I made a series of images about The World Trade Center on handy wall calendars. I lived on West Broadway one block north of the colossal buildings that ...
W4470
25.05.2011
` NO LONGER EMPTY’S ABOUT FACE - Itziar Barrio
WWW
NO LONGER EMPTY’S ABOUT FACE FOR THE NEW MUSEUM’S FESTIVAL OF IDEAS FOR A NEW CITY MAY – JUNE, 2011 INTRODUCTION PROJECT DESCRIPTION ARTIST’S CONCEPT BACKGROUND & METHODOLOGY SCHEDULE BUDGET ABOUT FESTIVAL OF IDEAS INTRODUCTION For The 201 ...
NO LONGER EMPTY’S ABOUT FACE FOR THE NEW MUSEUM’S FESTIVAL OF IDEAS FOR A NEW CITY MAY – JUNE, 2011 INTRODUCTION PROJECT DESCRIPTION ARTIST’S CONCEPT BACKGROUND & METHODOLOGY SCHEDULE BUDGET ABOUT FESTIVAL OF IDEAS INTRODUCTION For The 201 ...