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, St. Petersburg, Julie Panch

Julie Panch

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

€800

Painting, Visiting Rodin, Gela Keidia

Gela Keidia

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

€2,600

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

€319

Painting, Sky line, Eva Prieto

Eva Prieto

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

€1,700

Painting, Clair de Lune, Tomàs Sunyol

Tomàs Sunyol

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

€4,719

Painting, Venice, Lusie Schellenberg

Lusie Schellenberg

Painting . 35 x 45 x 1 cm Painting . 13.8 x 17.7 x 0.4 inch

€900

Painting, First Lunch, Seromo Okoro

Seromo Okoro

Painting . 91.4 x 121.9 x 3.8 cm Painting . 36 x 48 x 1.5 inch

€2,276

Painting, Landscape, Emilio Tejada

Emilio Tejada

Painting . 63.5 x 70.5 x 3 cm Painting . 25 x 27.8 x 1.2 inch

€1,200

Painting, Pont Neuf, Paris, Armand

Armand

Painting . 46.5 x 65 x 1.5 cm Painting . 18.3 x 25.6 x 0.6 inch

€1,315

Painting, Always alive, Galia Chuntova

Galia Chuntova

Painting . 40 x 60 x 2 cm Painting . 15.7 x 23.6 x 0.8 inch

€1,450

Painting, Fraserburgh, Alain Abramatic

Alain Abramatic

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

€1,060

Painting, Scène urbaine, Harry Urban

Harry Urban

Painting . 32 x 41.5 x 0.5 cm Painting . 12.6 x 16.3 x 0.2 inch

€963

Painting, Shed n2, Yevgeniya Kramska

Yevgeniya Kramska

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

€819

Painting, Birdie, Valery Tatar

Valery Tatar

Painting . 155 x 135 x 2 cm Painting . 61 x 53.1 x 0.8 inch

€3,213

Sculpture, Ohne Titel, Gerd Kanz

Gerd Kanz

Sculpture . 29 x 25 x 4 cm Sculpture . 11.4 x 9.8 x 1.6 inch

€1,100

Painting, Venise, Josselin Bodley

Josselin Bodley

Painting . 46 x 38 x 2 cm Painting . 18.1 x 15 x 0.8 inch

€1,145

Painting, Aix Cafe, Brian Elwell

Brian Elwell

Painting . 29 x 61 x 1 cm Painting . 11.4 x 24 x 0.4 inch

€973

Painting, Penumbra, David Walker

David Walker

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

€2,067

Painting, Haussman 2, Valérie Dinelli

Valérie Dinelli

Painting . 70 x 70 x 10 cm Painting . 27.6 x 27.6 x 3.9 inch

€3,500

Painting, Casa al mare, Julius Seyler

Julius Seyler

Painting . 63 x 77 x 0.5 cm Painting . 24.8 x 30.3 x 0.2 inch

€2,414

Painting, Expectation, Eugene Petrov

Eugene Petrov

Painting . 61 x 46 x 2 cm Painting . 24 x 18.1 x 0.8 inch

€950

Painting, City View, Lusine Abrahamyan

Lusine Abrahamyan

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

€1,500 €1,350

Painting, San Francisco Haze, Vianney

Vianney

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

€2,400

Painting, Australian village, Pro Hart

Pro Hart

Painting . 66 x 71 x 0.5 cm Painting . 26 x 28 x 0.2 inch

€8,900 €8,010

Painting, Lookout, Nanci Erskine

Nanci Erskine

Painting . 106.7 x 71.1 x 3.8 cm Painting . 42 x 28 x 1.5 inch

€1,548

Painting, Interior, Franceska Kirke

Franceska Kirke

Painting . 86 x 112 x 3 cm Painting . 33.9 x 44.1 x 1.2 inch

€2,800

Painting, Venise, Roberto Gherardi

Roberto Gherardi

Painting . 41 x 56 x 1 cm Painting . 16.1 x 22 x 0.4 inch

€1,088

Painting, Manarola, Clara Duch

Clara Duch

Painting . 60 x 80 x 2.5 cm Painting . 23.6 x 31.5 x 1 inch

€2,000

Fine Art Drawings, Lorgues, Francine Ledieu

Francine Ledieu

Fine Art Drawings . 50 x 65 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 19.7 x 25.6 x 0 inch

€3,800

Painting, Vince II, Matthew Green

Matthew Green

Painting . 55.9 x 76.2 x 5.1 cm Painting . 22 x 30 x 2 inch

€865