Thinking of giving art for Christmas? Explore our gift guide

Architecture

Art and architecture share many similarities. They've influenced one another throughout history. However, trying to liken these two disciplines will inevitably lead to certain contractions.

Perhaps the biggest difference is that Art, in its broadest sense, is defined as a creation meant to trigger an emotional response which is generally related to aesthetic pleasure. It doesn't satisfy any of life's basic needs, but it leads to thoughts, reflections, and often taps into our subconscious and our memory. On the other hand, architecture's primary purpose is to shelter individuals and ensure their safety. Architecture is meant to serve a utilitarian purpose.

Today, architecture has gone far beyond this initial function. Architects have strived to combine engineering and aesthetic research to create buildings that are so out of the ordinary we wonder how they were designed. They want their creations to stand out and favour originality and creativity. Just like in arts, architecture is influenced by the historical, social, and political context of the time and each movement has its own characteristics, from baroque to futurism to Bauhaus. Modern architecture marked a turn in the history of architecture. Architects revolutionised the social scope of their discipline and took an industrialist approach to society and nature — avant-garde architects rubbed shoulders with artists such as Georges Braque, Piet Mondrian, and members of the De Stijl group. Le Corbusier is a pioneer in collective housing, and also took part in ambitious projects which aimed to rebuild entire cities, such as Chandigarh in India. Decorative arts also developed by taking inspiration from the conventions that governed modernist architecture.

Contemporary architecture might not be a specific movement per se, but buildings that fall into this category share certain attributes. Contemporary architecture is characterised by curvy lines and various volumes in a single structure, as seen with the Sydney Opera House. The architect Jørn Utzon explained that he didn't seek to create a building for this project, but an actual sculpture. The building continually renews itself with new meanings and experiences for each passerby. Architectural works often require periods of deep reflection and a long though process in order for the architect to envisage how to give their building a sense of character and soul.

Whether architecture is an art or not is a never ending debate, but it is undeniable that there are strong links between the two disciplines. There are many examples of collaborations between contemporary artists and architects, and today the works of the greatest architects are exhibited in museums along with their fellow artists.

Discover our selections of artworks inspired by art and architecture!

Read more
Sculpture, Horizon, Wilds

Wilds

Sculpture - 125 x 180 cm Sculpture - 49.2 x 70.9 inch

Sold

Painting, Le port, Claude Vénard

Claude Vénard

Painting - 65 x 81 x 3 cm Painting - 25.6 x 31.9 x 1.2 inch

Sold

Painting, 1838, Noz

Noz

Painting - 82 x 117 x 2 cm Painting - 32.3 x 46.1 x 0.8 inch

Sold

Painting, Capriccio, Zdravko Derek

Zdravko Derek

Painting - 60 x 90 x 2 cm Painting - 23.6 x 35.4 x 0.8 inch

Sold

Painting, Ateliers, Patrick Bastardoz

Patrick Bastardoz

Painting - 60 x 60 x 2 cm Painting - 23.6 x 23.6 x 0.8 inch

Sold

Painting, Paris 2, Joaquim Falcó

Joaquim Falcó

Painting - 50 x 50 x 3 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 1.2 inch

Sold

Painting, Landscape, Emilio Tejada

Emilio Tejada

Painting - 63.5 x 70.5 x 3 cm Painting - 25 x 27.8 x 1.2 inch

€1,200

Painting, Babel, Ciprian Mihailescu

Ciprian Mihailescu

Painting - 70 x 80 x 2 cm Painting - 27.6 x 31.5 x 0.8 inch

€3,000 €2,700

Painting, Eternel été, Yi-GE

Yi-GE

Painting - 89 x 116 cm Painting - 35 x 45.7 inch

Sold

Painting, Le temps suspendu, Yi-GE

Yi-GE

Painting - 89 x 116 cm Painting - 35 x 45.7 inch

Sold

Painting, Sunshine City, Yi-GE

Yi-GE

Painting - 97 x 130 cm Painting - 38.2 x 51.2 inch

Sold

Painting, La rencontre, Yi-GE

Yi-GE

Painting - 80 x 80 cm Painting - 31.5 x 31.5 inch

Sold

Painting, In 10 minutes, Galya Popova

Galya Popova

Painting - 60 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 23.6 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch

€1,653

Painting, Renewal, Marta Rynkiewicz

Marta Rynkiewicz

Painting - 120 x 80 x 3 cm Painting - 47.2 x 31.5 x 1.2 inch

€1,500 €1,350

Sculpture, Why Not ?, Pere Aragay

Pere Aragay

Sculpture - 23 x 20 x 23 cm Sculpture - 9.1 x 7.9 x 9.1 inch

€1,500

Fine Art Drawings, Python, Pauline Di Valentin

Pauline Di Valentin

Fine Art Drawings - 70 x 50 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 27.6 x 19.7 x 0 inch

€700

Painting, Paris, Sophie Dumont

Sophie Dumont

Painting - 65 x 81 x 2 cm Painting - 25.6 x 31.9 x 0.8 inch

€3,900

Painting, Tauric Doves, Ivan Tverdun

Ivan Tverdun

Painting - 60 x 70 x 2 cm Painting - 23.6 x 27.6 x 0.8 inch

€2,500

Sculpture, Forties, Philip Hearsey

Philip Hearsey

Sculpture - 64 x 23.5 x 23.5 cm Sculpture - 25.2 x 9.3 x 9.3 inch

€2,220

Painting, Abandoned diner, Pappay

Pappay

Painting - 80 x 80 x 4 cm Painting - 31.5 x 31.5 x 1.6 inch

€1,900

Painting, On the bridge, Galya Popova

Galya Popova

Painting - 50 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch

€1,000

Painting, Joy factory!, Marta Zawadzka

Marta Zawadzka

Painting - 130 x 130 x 2 cm Painting - 51.2 x 51.2 x 0.8 inch

€3,600

Painting, Labyrinthe, Remi Delaplace

Remi Delaplace

Painting - 65 x 100 x 3 cm Painting - 25.6 x 39.4 x 1.2 inch

€2,990

Photography, Urban Girl, Fabien Novarino

Fabien Novarino

Photography - 100 x 100 x 2 cm Photography - 39.4 x 39.4 x 0.8 inch

€1,500

Painting, Le cocon, Mea Ambrozo

Mea Ambrozo

Painting - 33 x 41 x 1 cm Painting - 13 x 16.1 x 0.4 inch

€1,500

Painting, Paysage chinois 715, Xiu

Xiu

Painting - 50 x 20 x 1 cm Painting - 19.7 x 7.9 x 0.4 inch

€600

Painting, Paysage chinois 710, Xiu

Xiu

Painting - 50 x 20 x 1 cm Painting - 19.7 x 7.9 x 0.4 inch

€600

15/100