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, 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

Photography, Urban Girl, Fabien Novarino

Fabien Novarino

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

£1,332

Photography, Guggenheim Museum, Keystone

Keystone

Photography . 76.2 x 101.6 cm Photography . 30 x 40 inch

£732

Photography, Madeleine, Vanessa Vercel

Vanessa Vercel

Photography . 70 x 105 x 2 cm Photography . 27.6 x 41.3 x 0.8 inch

£1,154

Painting, Orlando, Véro Blaise

Véro Blaise

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

£808

Painting, Venice, Marion Zimmermann

Marion Zimmermann

Painting . 80 x 80 x 1.2 cm Painting . 31.5 x 31.5 x 0.5 inch

£746

Print, Untitled, Arnau Alemany

Arnau Alemany

Print . 52 x 38 x 0.1 cm Print . 20.5 x 15 x 0 inch

£444

Painting, Meno Parole, Riccardo Mayr

Riccardo Mayr

Painting . 40 x 40 x 0.1 cm Painting . 15.7 x 15.7 x 0 inch

£710

Print, Istanbul 2, Sukran Ulucan

Sukran Ulucan

Print . 33 x 44 x 0.3 cm Print . 13 x 17.3 x 0.1 inch

£577

Photography, Eux deux, Bogdan Kotewicz

Bogdan Kotewicz

Photography . 50 x 50 x 0.3 cm Photography . 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.1 inch

£1,065

Photography, Untitled 1, Juan Pablo Castro

Juan Pablo Castro

Photography . 61 x 91.4 x 0.3 cm Photography . 24 x 36 x 0.1 inch

£2,439

Fine Art Drawings, Paysage sauvage, Niki Neuts

Niki Neuts

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

£1,065

Sculpture, Grand pool, Ramon Enrich

Ramon Enrich

Sculpture . 23 x 50 x 30 cm Sculpture . 9.1 x 19.7 x 11.8 inch

£3,950

Photography, Berlin, Rodolfo Franchi

Rodolfo Franchi

Photography . 75 x 50 x 1 cm Photography . 29.5 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch

£870

Painting, Z Airport, Levon Fljyan

Levon Fljyan

Painting . 45 x 45 x 2 cm Painting . 17.7 x 17.7 x 0.8 inch

£710

Painting, la belle notre dame, Liao

Liao

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

£1,864

Painting, Miami, Véro Blaise

Véro Blaise

Painting . 110 x 110 x 2.5 cm Painting . 43.3 x 43.3 x 1 inch

£2,751

Painting, Icarus 8, Edward Shahda

Edward Shahda

Painting . 37 x 54 cm Painting . 14.6 x 21.3 inch

£1,509

Painting, Bledi, Moi.

Moi.

Painting . 73 x 92 x 2 cm Painting . 28.7 x 36.2 x 0.8 inch

£1,775

Painting, White, Sophie Dumont

Sophie Dumont

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

£2,574

Photography, Untitled #42, Josef Nadj

Josef Nadj

Photography . 25 x 30 cm Photography . 9.8 x 11.8 inch

£976

Painting, Blue Thames, Brian Elwell

Brian Elwell

Painting . 30 x 91 x 1 cm Painting . 11.8 x 35.8 x 0.4 inch

£1,940

Painting, Elprup, Ramon Enrich

Ramon Enrich

Painting . 110 x 125 x 2 cm Painting . 43.3 x 49.2 x 0.8 inch

£13,848

Painting, Selo - R, Ivan Tzonev

Ivan Tzonev

Painting . 89 x 130 x 2 cm Painting . 35 x 51.2 x 0.8 inch

£1,065