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, AXF_Decay_IN_08, Axel Fassio

Axel Fassio

Photography . 60 x 90 x 0.1 cm Photography . 23.6 x 35.4 x 0 inch

£1,110

Photography, AXF_Decay_IN_14, Axel Fassio

Axel Fassio

Photography . 60 x 90 x 0.1 cm Photography . 23.6 x 35.4 x 0 inch

£1,110

Photography, AXF_Decay_IN_06, Axel Fassio

Axel Fassio

Photography . 60 x 90 x 0.1 cm Photography . 23.6 x 35.4 x 0 inch

£1,110

Photography, AXF_Decay_IN_15, Axel Fassio

Axel Fassio

Photography . 90 x 60 x 0.1 cm Photography . 35.4 x 23.6 x 0 inch

£1,110

Photography, AXF_Decay_IN_05, Axel Fassio

Axel Fassio

Photography . 60 x 90 x 0.1 cm Photography . 23.6 x 35.4 x 0 inch

£1,110

Photography, AXF_Decay_IN_02, Axel Fassio

Axel Fassio

Photography . 60 x 90 x 0.1 cm Photography . 23.6 x 35.4 x 0 inch

£1,110

Print, M420, Jesús Perea

Jesús Perea

Print . 100 x 70 cm Print . 39.4 x 27.6 inch

£1,353

Painting, Murmur, Janise Yntema

Janise Yntema

Painting . 100 x 145 cm Painting . 39.4 x 57.1 inch

£9,201

Painting, Village I, Daozhou Huang

Daozhou Huang

Painting . 40 x 30 x 2 cm Painting . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

£355

Painting, Village Morning, Kamo Atoyan

Kamo Atoyan

Painting . 40 x 60 x 2 cm Painting . 15.7 x 23.6 x 0.8 inch

£329 £280

Painting, Le Protocole, Popay

Popay

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

£1,243

Print, Cocooning, Sophie Griotto

Sophie Griotto

Print . 40 x 50 x 0.2 cm Print . 15.7 x 19.7 x 0.1 inch

£85

Fine Art Drawings, Escalier C, Gabriel Riesnert

Gabriel Riesnert

Fine Art Drawings . 41 x 31 x 0.5 cm Fine Art Drawings . 16.1 x 12.2 x 0.2 inch

£648

Print, Loulou, Philippe Matine

Philippe Matine

Print . 40 x 50 x 0.2 cm Print . 15.7 x 19.7 x 0.1 inch

£85

Painting, Celeste, Nigel Bailey

Nigel Bailey

Painting . 40.3 x 40.3 x 0.3 cm Painting . 15.9 x 15.9 x 0.1 inch

£1,243

Painting, la saint maritaine, Liao

Liao

Painting . 100 x 100 x 3 cm Painting . 39.4 x 39.4 x 1.2 inch

£1,864

Sculpture, Ohne Titel, Gerd Kanz

Gerd Kanz

Sculpture . 29 x 25 x 4 cm Sculpture . 11.4 x 9.8 x 1.6 inch

£976

Painting, Cerrojo, Josefa Sanz del Amo

Josefa Sanz del Amo

Painting . 34.5 x 37 x 0.1 cm Painting . 13.6 x 14.6 x 0 inch

£1,243

Painting, Azul, Agustín Gancedo

Agustín Gancedo

Painting . 50 x 61 x 1.9 cm Painting . 19.7 x 24 x 0.7 inch

£1,775

Painting, Venise, Samuel Azuelos

Samuel Azuelos

Painting . 60 x 76 x 2 cm Painting . 23.6 x 29.9 x 0.8 inch

£5,770

Painting, Village 28, Daozhou Huang

Daozhou Huang

Painting . 30 x 40 x 2 cm Painting . 11.8 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch

£444

Print, Appartment, Oscar Oiwa

Oscar Oiwa

Print . 55 x 69 cm Print . 21.7 x 27.2 inch

£533

Painting, Chicago #1, John Ferry

John Ferry

Painting . 40.64 x 25.4 x 0.1 cm Painting . 16 x 10 x 0 inch

£1,660

Painting, Shadow 3, Samiran Boruah

Samiran Boruah

Painting . 70 x 50 x 2 cm Painting . 27.6 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch

£710

Painting, Santorini, Alexandra Djokic

Alexandra Djokic

Painting . 96.8 x 65 x 0.1 cm Painting . 38.1 x 25.6 x 0 inch

£870

Painting, Honfleur, Josep Cruañas

Josep Cruañas

Painting . 40 x 60 x 3 cm Painting . 15.7 x 23.6 x 1.2 inch

£1,420

Print, Shark Pool, Blank Barbie

Blank Barbie

Print . 76 x 51 x 0.01 cm Print . 29.9 x 20.1 x 0 inch

£1,065