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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Photography, Londres I, Feng Hatat

Londres I

Feng Hatat

Photography - 50 x 70 x 4 cm Photography - 19.7 x 27.6 x 1.6 inch

$714

Sculpture, Cubic #4, Gil Bruvel

Cubic #4

Gil Bruvel

Sculpture - 71 x 28 x 28 cm Sculpture - 28 x 11 x 11 inch

$23,810

Print, Tempio, Tino Stefanoni

Tempio

Tino Stefanoni

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

$871

Painting, Paysage village 2, Xi Lan

Paysage village 2

Xi Lan

Painting - 30 x 30 x 1 cm Painting - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch

$595

Photography, Circus, Cécile Baldewyns

Circus

Cécile Baldewyns

Photography - 40 x 60 x 0.5 cm Photography - 15.7 x 23.6 x 0.2 inch

$833

Photography, Fairy, Cécile Baldewyns

Fairy

Cécile Baldewyns

Photography - 40 x 60 x 0.5 cm Photography - 15.7 x 23.6 x 0.2 inch

$833

Painting, Happy Days, Vianney

Happy Days

Vianney

Painting - 120 x 120 x 2 cm Painting - 47.2 x 47.2 x 0.8 inch

$6,548

Painting, Ciudad, Emilio López

Ciudad

Emilio López

Painting - 100 x 81 x 2 cm Painting - 39.4 x 31.9 x 0.8 inch

$2,024

Painting, Home Town, Luong Trung

Home Town

Luong Trung

Painting - 50 x 77 x 1 cm Painting - 19.7 x 30.3 x 0.4 inch

$3,274

Painting, OW1.08, Jean Feinberg

OW1.08

Jean Feinberg

Painting - 32 x 180 cm Painting - 12.6 x 70.9 inch

$3,884

Painting, Snow Fence, Victor Roschkov

Snow Fence

Victor Roschkov

Painting - 65.5 x 41.4 x 0.3 cm Painting - 25.8 x 16.3 x 0.1 inch

$627

Painting, Campos, Sylvie Eudes

Campos

Sylvie Eudes

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

$4,286

Print, Bandiera, Tino Stefanoni

Bandiera

Tino Stefanoni

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

$512

Painting, Ref. 2118, Eva Prieto

Ref. 2118

Eva Prieto

Painting - 65 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 25.6 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch

$2,381

Painting, Ref. 2003, Eva Prieto

Ref. 2003

Eva Prieto

Painting - 65 x 46 x 1 cm Painting - 25.6 x 18.1 x 0.4 inch

$2,143

Fine Art Drawings, The Gallery, Michael Grine

The Gallery

Michael Grine

Fine Art Drawings - 61 x 91.4 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 24 x 36 x 0.1 inch

$1,000

Photography, Level 7, Barry Cawston

Level 7

Barry Cawston

Photography - 100 x 120 x 2 cm Photography - 39.4 x 47.2 x 0.8 inch

$3,274

Painting, Moved Out, Victor Roschkov

Moved Out

Victor Roschkov

Painting - 61 x 41.9 x 0.3 cm Painting - 24 x 16.5 x 0.1 inch

$553

Painting, Série N.Y. #1, Koba

Série N.Y. #1

Koba

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

$595

Painting, Portal, Aurélie Trabaud

Portal

Aurélie Trabaud

Painting - 23 x 23 x 0.1 cm Painting - 9.1 x 9.1 x 0 inch

$589

Painting, Plein Soleil, Sylvie Eudes

Plein Soleil

Sylvie Eudes

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

$6,429

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