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, Magnolia, Ivan Tverdun

Ivan Tverdun

Painting - 100 x 80 x 2 cm Painting - 39.4 x 31.5 x 0.8 inch

$3,635

Painting, Capital, Alexander Dobrodiy

Alexander Dobrodiy

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

$2,036

Painting, Smith's shop, Pappay

Pappay

Painting - 40 x 40 x 2 cm Painting - 15.7 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch

$642

Painting, Afterglow, David Hinchliffe

David Hinchliffe

Painting - 120 x 180 x 4 cm Painting - 47.2 x 70.9 x 1.6 inch

$4,793

Painting, Sunny home, Gago Chtchyan

Gago Chtchyan

Painting - 70 x 65 x 2 cm Painting - 27.6 x 25.6 x 0.8 inch

$1,454

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled 250, Tarek Butayhi

Tarek Butayhi

Fine Art Drawings - 21 x 30 cm Fine Art Drawings - 8.3 x 11.8 inch

$700

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled 246, Tarek Butayhi

Tarek Butayhi

Fine Art Drawings - 21 x 30 cm Fine Art Drawings - 8.3 x 11.8 inch

$700

Painting, Fuji mountain, Lucio Forte

Lucio Forte

Painting - 27 x 37 x 0.1 cm Painting - 10.6 x 14.6 x 0 inch

$145

Painting, Etude 17, Alexander Shandor

Alexander Shandor

Painting - 20 x 20 x 0.2 cm Painting - 7.9 x 7.9 x 0.1 inch

$600

Painting, Untitled, Mauro Bellucci

Mauro Bellucci

Painting - 50 x 50 x 0.1 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0 inch

$1,212

Painting, Glass Wall, Laura Newman

Laura Newman

Painting - 112 x 152 cm Painting - 44.1 x 59.8 inch

$13,352

Painting, Beach house, Laura Newman

Laura Newman

Painting - 183 x 142 cm Painting - 72 x 55.9 inch

$16,639

Painting, Crossing, Ludovic Mercher

Ludovic Mercher

Painting - 97 x 162 x 2.5 cm Painting - 38.2 x 63.8 x 1 inch

$2,060

Painting, Tsuru, Ludovic Mercher

Ludovic Mercher

Painting - 97 x 162 x 2.5 cm Painting - 38.2 x 63.8 x 1 inch

$2,060

Painting, Time Square, NY, Phil

Phil

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

$1,030

Fine Art Drawings, Sunday Morning, Kirill Postovit

Kirill Postovit

Fine Art Drawings - 21 x 29.7 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 8.3 x 11.7 x 0 inch

$315 $250

Painting, Amsterdam, Jacques Coquillay

Jacques Coquillay

Painting - 65 x 65 x 0.5 cm Painting - 25.6 x 25.6 x 0.2 inch

$3,150

Print, Venise, Philippe Geluck

Philippe Geluck

Print - 80 x 60 cm Print - 31.5 x 23.6 inch

$218

Painting, Palimpseste, Michel Nadaï

Michel Nadaï

Painting - 150 x 70 x 2 cm Painting - 59.1 x 27.6 x 0.8 inch

$7,997

Painting, Friendship, Ventzislav Dikov

Ventzislav Dikov

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

$3,271

Painting, Winter Day, Oleg Litvinov

Oleg Litvinov

Painting - 45 x 29.5 x 2 cm Painting - 17.7 x 11.6 x 0.8 inch

$412

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