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!

Read more
Painting, Blue Dusk, Amy Nelder

Amy Nelder

Painting . 76.2 x 101.6 x 3.8 cm Painting . 30 x 40 x 1.5 inch

£7,503

Painting, Square, Benoît Tranchant

Benoît Tranchant

Painting . 160 x 160 x 2 cm Painting . 63 x 63 x 0.8 inch

£7,085

Print, Plutôt, Philippe Matine

Philippe Matine

Print . 80 x 140 x 4.5 cm Print . 31.5 x 55.1 x 1.8 inch

£398

Painting, Scale, Remi Delaplace

Remi Delaplace

Painting . 135 x 90 x 4 cm Painting . 53.1 x 35.4 x 1.6 inch

£3,091

Painting, Costa Brava, AVEL Muñoz

AVEL Muñoz

Painting . 28 x 36 x 3 cm Painting . 11 x 14.2 x 1.2 inch

£709

Painting, Untitled 2, Keti Shapatava

Keti Shapatava

Painting . 60 x 60 x 2.5 cm Painting . 23.6 x 23.6 x 1 inch

£1,771

Print, Venezia, Remo Brindisi

Remo Brindisi

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

£88

Painting, Ladder, Marta Zawadzka

Marta Zawadzka

Painting . 120 x 140 x 2 cm Painting . 47.2 x 55.1 x 0.8 inch

£5,225

Painting, Equilibre ER1, Kardesch

Kardesch

Painting . 80 x 40 x 3.5 cm Painting . 31.5 x 15.7 x 1.4 inch

£2,037

Photography, The pit, Léa Bon

Léa Bon

Photography . 39.9 x 59.9 x 0.3 cm Photography . 15.7 x 23.6 x 0.1 inch

£2,839

Print, 9 de Coeur, Isabelle Lutter

Isabelle Lutter

Print . 84.3 x 60 x 1.4 cm Print . 33.2 x 23.6 x 0.6 inch

£3,100

Print, Red lion, Philippe Matine

Philippe Matine

Print . 70 x 140 x 4.5 cm Print . 27.6 x 55.1 x 1.8 inch

£389

Painting, Traveler, Alexandra Djokic

Alexandra Djokic

Painting . 100 x 70 x 0.1 cm Painting . 39.4 x 27.6 x 0 inch

£1,328

Fine Art Drawings, Folie 307, Denis Poughon

Denis Poughon

Fine Art Drawings . 26 x 13 x 1.3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 10.2 x 5.1 x 0.5 inch

£310

Painting, After Dark, Notseig

Notseig

Painting . 100 x 100 x 0.5 cm Painting . 39.4 x 39.4 x 0.2 inch

£2,657

Print, Trop chaud, Philippe Matine

Philippe Matine

Print . 100 x 100 x 4.5 cm Print . 39.4 x 39.4 x 1.8 inch

£291

Photography, Rooted, Kiritin Beyer

Kiritin Beyer

Photography . 102 x 102 x 0.1 cm Photography . 40.2 x 40.2 x 0 inch

£1,222

Painting, US beach, Appaloosa

Appaloosa

Painting . 54 x 73 x 2 cm Painting . 21.3 x 28.7 x 0.8 inch

£664

Painting, Baie Sitia, Jacques Guillet

Jacques Guillet

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

£1,594

Painting, Bowl, Nathan Rhoads

Nathan Rhoads

Painting . 91.4 x 61 x 3.8 cm Painting . 36 x 24 x 1.5 inch

£5,597

Print, Chrayscler, Fifo Stricker

Fifo Stricker

Print . 49.5 x 19.5 x 0.1 cm Print . 19.5 x 7.7 x 0 inch

£487