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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Photography, Luna Park, Rodrigo

Rodrigo

Photography - 35.1 x 27.1 x 0.1 cm Photography - 13.8 x 10.7 x 0 inch

$2,440

Photography, Love in the tropics, Rodrigo

Rodrigo

Photography - 35.6 x 23.8 x 0.1 cm Photography - 14 x 9.4 x 0 inch

$2,440 $2,197

Painting, Urban Notre-Dame, Lasveguix

Lasveguix

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

$2,075 $1,764

Painting, Urban Sacré-Coeur, Lasveguix

Lasveguix

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

$2,075 $1,764

Painting, Barca, Dario Bazan

Dario Bazan

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

$977

Painting, Bern, Lusie Schellenberg

Lusie Schellenberg

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

$855

Painting, Residence, Lisa Daniels

Lisa Daniels

Painting - 91.4 x 91.4 x 3.8 cm Painting - 36 x 36 x 1.5 inch

$880

Painting, NYC, Marta Zawadzka

NYC

Marta Zawadzka

Painting - 100 x 90 x 2 cm Painting - 39.4 x 35.4 x 0.8 inch

$2,808

Painting, At home, AreiRa

AreiRa

Painting - 50 x 40 x 1 cm Painting - 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.4 inch

$855

Painting, Morning, Ivanyuk Oleksiy

Ivanyuk Oleksiy

Painting - 70 x 80 x 2 cm Painting - 27.6 x 31.5 x 0.8 inch

$726

Painting, Chez Soi, Sylvie Eudes

Sylvie Eudes

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

$5,493

Painting, Tour rouge, Rudyard Heaton

Rudyard Heaton

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

$1,099

Painting, Les amies, Sylvie Eudes

Sylvie Eudes

Painting - 80 x 80 x 3 cm Painting - 31.5 x 31.5 x 1.2 inch

$4,395

Print, Format #660, Petr Strnad

Petr Strnad

Print - 50.8 x 38.1 x 0.1 cm Print - 20 x 15 x 0 inch

$159

Painting, The Black Tavern, Meleo

Meleo

Painting - 32 x 22 x 4 cm Painting - 12.6 x 8.7 x 1.6 inch

$1,465

Painting, Oxford, Simon Kozhin

Simon Kozhin

Painting - 24 x 30 x 0.3 cm Painting - 9.4 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

$3,418

Painting, Shadows map, Carlos Diaz

Carlos Diaz

Painting - 73 x 92 x 4 cm Painting - 28.7 x 36.2 x 1.6 inch

$5,127

Painting, Herb, Carlos Diaz

Carlos Diaz

Painting - 54 x 65 x 4 cm Painting - 21.3 x 25.6 x 1.6 inch

$3,540

Painting, Swallow, Carlos Diaz

Carlos Diaz

Painting - 60 x 59 x 4 cm Painting - 23.6 x 23.2 x 1.6 inch

$3,540

Photography, 65 Flats, Barry Cawston

Barry Cawston

Photography - 82.5 x 90 x 2 cm Photography - 32.5 x 35.4 x 0.8 inch

$1,905

Painting, Spring in Foy, Pol Ledent

Pol Ledent

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

$671

Painting, A few houses, Pol Ledent

Pol Ledent

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

$671

Painting, Selo - 3, Ivan Tzonev

Ivan Tzonev

Painting - 20 x 20 x 2 cm Painting - 7.9 x 7.9 x 0.8 inch

$98

Painting, Printemps 56241, Pol Ledent

Pol Ledent

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

$855

Painting, River in winter, Pol Ledent

Pol Ledent

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

$851

Painting, Windy autumn, Pol Ledent

Pol Ledent

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

$855

Painting, Afterglow, David Hinchliffe

David Hinchliffe

Painting - 120 x 180 x 4 cm Painting - 47.2 x 70.9 x 1.6 inch

$4,940

Painting, Blooming, Yuriy Demiyanov

Yuriy Demiyanov

Painting - 50 x 40 x 3 cm Painting - 19.7 x 15.7 x 1.2 inch

$6,836

16/100