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!

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Painting, US beach, Appaloosa

US beach

Appaloosa

Painting - 54 x 73 x 2 cm Painting - 21.3 x 28.7 x 0.8 inch

$867

Painting, Amsterdam, Veronika Benoni

Amsterdam

Veronika Benoni

Painting - 76 x 92 x 2 cm Painting - 29.9 x 36.2 x 0.8 inch

$2,543

Painting, Destino, Olga Afanasiadi

Destino

Olga Afanasiadi

Painting - 80 x 60 x 2 cm Painting - 31.5 x 23.6 x 0.8 inch

$1,618

Photography, Stories #2, Edmund Sumner

Stories #2

Edmund Sumner

Photography - 54 x 70 x 0.1 cm Photography - 21.3 x 27.6 x 0 inch

$2,608

Photography, Circular, Edmund Sumner

Circular

Edmund Sumner

Photography - 41.6 x 29.7 x 0.1 cm Photography - 16.4 x 11.7 x 0 inch

$1,235

Photography, Inagawa AM, Edmund Sumner

Inagawa AM

Edmund Sumner

Photography - 58.5 x 46.1 x 0.1 cm Photography - 23 x 18.1 x 0 inch

$1,235

Photography, Inagawa, Edmund Sumner

Inagawa

Edmund Sumner

Photography - 59.5 x 46.4 x 0.1 cm Photography - 23.4 x 18.3 x 0 inch

$1,235

Painting, Traveler, Alexandra Djokic

Traveler

Alexandra Djokic

Painting - 100 x 70 x 0.1 cm Painting - 39.4 x 27.6 x 0 inch

$1,734

Print, Tempio, Tino Stefanoni

Tempio

Tino Stefanoni

Print - 50 x 140 x 1 cm Print - 19.7 x 55.1 x 0.4 inch

$846

Painting, Osmose 06,1, Paul Gallaud

Osmose 06,1

Paul Gallaud

Painting - 40 x 40 x 3 cm Painting - 15.7 x 15.7 x 1.2 inch

$1,387

Print, Bandiera, Tino Stefanoni

Bandiera

Tino Stefanoni

Print - 50 x 70 x 0.1 cm Print - 19.7 x 27.6 x 0 inch

$497

Sculpture, Hommage à Eiffel, Arman

Hommage à Eiffel

Arman

Sculpture - 38 x 24 x 9 cm Sculpture - 15 x 9.4 x 3.5 inch

$8,091

Photography, In Jail, Marcus Cederberg

In Jail

Marcus Cederberg

Photography - 70 x 50 x 0.1 cm Photography - 27.6 x 19.7 x 0 inch

$231

Photography, Luna Park, Rodrigo

Luna Park

Rodrigo

Photography - 35.1 x 27.1 x 0.1 cm Photography - 13.8 x 10.7 x 0 inch

$2,311

Photography, Companyes, Martí Sala

Companyes

Martí Sala

Photography - 30 x 40 x 1 cm Photography - 11.8 x 15.7 x 0.4 inch

$809

Painting, An old village, Pol Ledent

An old village

Pol Ledent

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

$1,040

Photography, 65 Flats, Barry Cawston

65 Flats

Barry Cawston

Photography - 82.5 x 90 x 2 cm Photography - 32.5 x 35.4 x 0.8 inch

$1,853

Painting, The Black Tavern, Meleo

The Black Tavern

Meleo

Painting - 32 x 22 x 4 cm Painting - 12.6 x 8.7 x 1.6 inch

$1,387

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