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, Village, Sarkis Hamalbashian

Sarkis Hamalbashian

Painting . 50 x 60 x 2 cm Painting . 19.7 x 23.6 x 0.8 inch

€3,300

Painting, Jardí, Àlex Prunés

Àlex Prunés

Painting . 50 x 61 x 3 cm Painting . 19.7 x 24 x 1.2 inch

€1,700

Sculpture, Skywalker, Benjamin Pietri

Benjamin Pietri

Sculpture . 26 x 19.5 x 5.5 cm Sculpture . 10.2 x 7.7 x 2.2 inch

€600

Painting, Cozy patio, Galina Kulaga

Galina Kulaga

Painting . 50 x 70 x 1.5 cm Painting . 19.7 x 27.6 x 0.6 inch

€321

Painting, White, Helen Uter

Helen Uter

Painting . 116 x 89 x 2.5 cm Painting . 45.7 x 35 x 1 inch

€3,500

Painting, Home, Vitaliy Lishko

Vitaliy Lishko

Painting . 70 x 180 x 2 cm Painting . 27.6 x 70.9 x 0.8 inch

€6,500

Painting, Voxel 138, Michael Aubanel

Michael Aubanel

Painting . 40 x 30 x 0.1 cm Painting . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€650

Painting, Bank Street, Nigel Bailey

Nigel Bailey

Painting . 30.4 x 30.4 x 0.3 cm Painting . 12 x 12 x 0.1 inch

€900

Painting, Volnay, Nigel Bailey

Nigel Bailey

Painting . 40.3 x 51 x 0.3 cm Painting . 15.9 x 20.1 x 0.1 inch

€1,225

Photography, A Study in Silence, Guy Sargent

Guy Sargent

Photography . 58 x 40 x 0.2 cm Photography . 22.8 x 15.7 x 0.1 inch

€1,025

Print, Draco, Natalia Kolpakova

Natalia Kolpakova

Print . 135 x 135 x 0.5 cm Print . 53.1 x 53.1 x 0.2 inch

€687

Photography, Eclat hivernal, Jean Valera

Jean Valera

Photography . 50 x 75 x 0.3 cm Photography . 19.7 x 29.5 x 0.1 inch

€750

Painting, Swimming pool, Mea Ambrozo

Mea Ambrozo

Painting . 50 x 73 x 4 cm Painting . 19.7 x 28.7 x 1.6 inch

€4,200

Photography, Beach House, Eduardo Rezende

Eduardo Rezende

Photography . 74.9 x 49.8 x 0.3 cm Photography . 29.5 x 19.6 x 0.1 inch

€1,832

Painting, Blue wind, Alexander Dobrodiy

Alexander Dobrodiy

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

€1,680

Painting, Osmose 06,1, Paul Gallaud

Paul Gallaud

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

€1,700

Painting, Bordeaux, Gela Keidia

Gela Keidia

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

€2,600

Painting, Landscape (1), Vahe Bagumyan

Vahe Bagumyan

Painting . 40 x 50 x 2 cm Painting . 15.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch

€412 €351

Painting, Marina, AVEL Muñoz

AVEL Muñoz

Painting . 38 x 46 x 3 cm Painting . 15 x 18.1 x 1.2 inch

€1,150

Painting, Motion 3.2, Eduard Churkin

Eduard Churkin

Painting . 90 x 139 x 4 cm Painting . 35.4 x 54.7 x 1.6 inch

€10,800

Painting, Oasis, Ilia Balavadze

Ilia Balavadze

Painting . 70 x 110 x 3 cm Painting . 27.6 x 43.3 x 1.2 inch

€2,000

Fine Art Drawings, The Gallery, Michael Grine

Michael Grine

Fine Art Drawings . 61 x 91.4 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings . 24 x 36 x 0.1 inch

€1,832

Painting, Lotus 17, Xiu

Xiu

Painting . 30 x 13 x 1 cm Painting . 11.8 x 5.1 x 0.4 inch

€450