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, Assise, Paolo Grimaldi

Paolo Grimaldi

Painting . 22 x 30 cm Painting . 8.7 x 11.8 inch

£3,906

Fine Art Drawings, Mur Mémoire, Pierre Touron

Pierre Touron

Fine Art Drawings . 50 x 40 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 19.7 x 15.7 x 0 inch

£710

Painting, Ville rose, Karin Boinet

Karin Boinet

Painting . 32 x 24 x 0.1 cm Painting . 12.6 x 9.4 x 0 inch

£755

Painting, La bistro, Viktor Shvaiko

Viktor Shvaiko

Painting . 61 x 81.3 x 2.5 cm Painting . 24 x 32 x 1 inch

£6,667

Sculpture, Why Not ?, Pere Aragay

Pere Aragay

Sculpture . 23 x 20 x 23 cm Sculpture . 9.1 x 7.9 x 9.1 inch

£1,332

Painting, A yard, Janusz Mulak

Janusz Mulak

Painting . 55 x 73 x 3 cm Painting . 21.7 x 28.7 x 1.2 inch

£2,663

Design, Buto, Noti Massari

Noti Massari

Design . 32 x 20 x 20 cm Design . 12.6 x 7.9 x 7.9 inch

£1,598

Painting, Tour rouge, Rudyard Heaton

Rudyard Heaton

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

£799

Painting, L'éclosion, Myriam Le Fol

Myriam Le Fol

Painting . 73 x 90 x 2 cm Painting . 28.7 x 35.4 x 0.8 inch

£1,243

Painting, The Night, Piotr Fafrowicz

Piotr Fafrowicz

Painting . 36 x 30 x 0.1 cm Painting . 14.2 x 11.8 x 0 inch

£799

Painting, Visiting Rodin, Gela Keidia

Gela Keidia

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

£2,308

Painting, Rayon Vert 12, Robin Obitz

Robin Obitz

Painting . 97 x 162 x 3 cm Painting . 38.2 x 63.8 x 1.2 inch

£7,545

Painting, Notre-Dame, Edouard Zelenine

Edouard Zelenine

Painting . 55 x 50 x 1 cm Painting . 21.7 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch

£7,101

Fine Art Drawings, Useless Dream, Fred Borghesi

Fred Borghesi

Fine Art Drawings . 30 x 42 x 0.5 cm Fine Art Drawings . 11.8 x 16.5 x 0.2 inch

£1,509

Painting, Fragments 2, Andrea Vandoni

Andrea Vandoni

Painting . 70 x 60 x 4 cm Painting . 27.6 x 23.6 x 1.6 inch

£888

Painting, Sky line, Eva Prieto

Eva Prieto

Painting . 73 x 60 x 3 cm Painting . 28.7 x 23.6 x 1.2 inch

£1,509

Painting, Two's a Mood, Mariah Birsak

Mariah Birsak

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

£2,130

Photography, Soft Mornings, Arantza NT

Arantza NT

Photography . 45 x 30 x 0.01 cm Photography . 17.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch

£178

Photography, Blossoms, Joanna Maclennan

Joanna Maclennan

Photography . 76 x 61 x 0.5 cm Photography . 29.9 x 24 x 0.2 inch

£799

Painting, Folie, Marie-Ange Daudé

Marie-Ange Daudé

Painting . 95 x 140 x 1 cm Painting . 37.4 x 55.1 x 0.4 inch

£2,485

Painting, Pop Liberty, Poplea

Poplea

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

£2,277

Print, Bunker, Philippe Cognée

Philippe Cognée

Print . 37.5 x 50 x 0.1 cm Print . 14.8 x 19.7 x 0 inch

£399

Fine Art Drawings, Rayon vert 13, Robin Obitz

Robin Obitz

Fine Art Drawings . 42 x 29.7 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings . 16.5 x 11.7 x 0.1 inch

£1,598

Painting, Urban 2, Friedhard Meyer

Friedhard Meyer

Painting . 60 x 80 x 5 cm Painting . 23.6 x 31.5 x 2 inch

£976

Painting, London, Veronika Benoni

Veronika Benoni

Painting . 120 x 62 x 2 cm Painting . 47.2 x 24.4 x 0.8 inch

£1,953

Fine Art Drawings, Vertigo, Notseig

Notseig

Fine Art Drawings . 47 x 40 cm Fine Art Drawings . 18.5 x 15.7 inch

£1,198

Photography, Lines, Mario Tarantino

Mario Tarantino

Photography . 90 x 70 x 0.1 cm Photography . 35.4 x 27.6 x 0 inch

£932