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, Pégase, Bernard Vié

Bernard Vié

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

CHF 2,919

Painting, San Francisco Haze, Vianney

Vianney

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

CHF 2,335

Photography, Dialogue 06, Matthieu Venot

Matthieu Venot

Photography . 62.5 x 50 x 0.1 cm Photography . 24.6 x 19.7 x 0 inch

CHF 1,168

Painting, Sunny home, Gago Chtchyan

Gago Chtchyan

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

CHF 1,168

Painting, Geranios, Josefa Sanz del Amo

Josefa Sanz del Amo

Painting . 50 x 32.5 x 0.1 cm Painting . 19.7 x 12.8 x 0 inch

CHF 1,557

Painting, Tall City 3, Brian Elwell

Brian Elwell

Painting . 89 x 53 x 1 cm Painting . 35 x 20.9 x 0.4 inch

CHF 2,126

Photography, AXF_Burano_VE_01, Axel Fassio

Axel Fassio

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

CHF 1,216

Painting, Run Down Asturias, M. Muro

M. Muro

Painting . 40 x 60 x 1 cm Painting . 15.7 x 23.6 x 0.4 inch

CHF 2,141

Painting, Red Roofs, Alexander Shandor

Alexander Shandor

Painting . 47 x 66 x 3 cm Painting . 18.5 x 26 x 1.2 inch

CHF 1,247

Painting, Magnolia, Ivan Tverdun

Ivan Tverdun

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

CHF 2,919

Painting, Dream City, Procach Olesia

Procach Olesia

Painting . 110 x 60 x 2 cm Painting . 43.3 x 23.6 x 0.8 inch

CHF 1,211

Print, Raven's Pueblo, Tom Russell

Tom Russell

Print . 30.5 x 24.1 x 5.1 cm Print . 12 x 9.5 x 2 inch

CHF 669

Print, Basilisk, Fifo Stricker

Fifo Stricker

Print . 44 x 34.5 x 0.1 cm Print . 17.3 x 13.6 x 0 inch

CHF 487

Painting, Way home, Susana Mata

Susana Mata

Painting . 55 x 46 x 1 cm Painting . 21.7 x 18.1 x 0.4 inch

CHF 1,555

Print, V7, Isthme

V7

Isthme

Print . 30 x 40 x 0.4 cm Print . 11.8 x 15.7 x 0.2 inch

CHF 243

Painting, Nocturne, Dyala Khodary

Dyala Khodary

Painting . 90 x 90 x 2 cm Painting . 35.4 x 35.4 x 0.8 inch

CHF 3,406

Painting, Spring, Mea Ambrozo

Mea Ambrozo

Painting . 50 x 50 x 1 cm Painting . 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch

CHF 3,114

Painting, Vestiges, Clotaire Lehoux

Clotaire Lehoux

Painting . 137 x 165 x 0.5 cm Painting . 53.9 x 65 x 0.2 inch

CHF 2,919

Painting, Naples Walk, Melinda Patrick

Melinda Patrick

Painting . 45.7 x 45.7 x 3.8 cm Painting . 18 x 18 x 1.5 inch

CHF 655

Painting, Ramen Bowl, Meleo

Meleo

Painting . 31 x 22 x 1 cm Painting . 12.2 x 8.7 x 0.4 inch

CHF 487

Painting, Morning View, Sona Adalyan

Sona Adalyan

Painting . 30 x 40 x 1 cm Painting . 11.8 x 15.7 x 0.4 inch

CHF 282

Painting, Grow old with you, Poovi Art

Poovi Art

Painting . 91.4 x 121.9 x 5.1 cm Painting . 36 x 48 x 2 inch

CHF 1,427 CHF 998

Painting, Love the Waves, Julia Guizani

Julia Guizani

Painting . 91.5 x 91.5 x 2 cm Painting . 36 x 36 x 0.8 inch

CHF 4,087

Sculpture, Voxel BW2, Michael Aubanel

Michael Aubanel

Sculpture . 70 x 50 x 3 cm Sculpture . 27.6 x 19.7 x 1.2 inch

CHF 1,323

Fine Art Drawings, A Cozy Room, Alla Kechedzhan

Alla Kechedzhan

Fine Art Drawings . 20 x 15 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 7.9 x 5.9 x 0.1 inch

CHF 1,946

Print, Untitled, Franco Fortunato

Franco Fortunato

Print . 35 x 50 x 0.1 cm Print . 13.8 x 19.7 x 0 inch

CHF 234

Painting, Shadow, Galya Popova

Galya Popova

Painting . 70 x 120 x 2 cm Painting . 27.6 x 47.2 x 0.8 inch

CHF 2,958

Painting, Counting, Galya Popova

Galya Popova

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

CHF 3,114