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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, Bruxelles, Frederic Weisz

Frederic Weisz

Painting - 140 x 79 x 5 cm Painting - 55.1 x 31.1 x 2 inch

$4,426

Painting, Tramontane, Carole Leprince

Carole Leprince

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

$364

Painting, Sans titre, Walter Strack

Walter Strack

Painting - 120 x 80 x 4.5 cm Painting - 47.2 x 31.5 x 1.8 inch

$3,153

Painting, Daydreams, Joso Hanhausen

Joso Hanhausen

Painting - 100 x 80 x 3 cm Painting - 39.4 x 31.5 x 1.2 inch

$3,638

Painting, Paris by night, Veroe

Veroe

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

$109

Painting, Haute en couture, Veroe

Veroe

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

$109

Painting, Eiffel Rétro, Veroe

Veroe

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

$109

Painting, Urban Days, Veroe

Veroe

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

$109

Painting, Standing Opera, Veroe

Veroe

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

$109

Painting, Fashion week, Veroe

Veroe

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

$352

Painting, Waiting, Sona Adalyan

Sona Adalyan

Painting - 40 x 30 x 1 cm Painting - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch

$303

Painting, Rock the city, Meleo

Meleo

Painting - 11 x 16 x 1 cm Painting - 4.3 x 6.3 x 0.4 inch

$182 $164

Painting, Back in the days, Meleo

Meleo

Painting - 19 x 14 x 1 cm Painting - 7.5 x 5.5 x 0.4 inch

$303 $273

Painting, Miami vice, Fenx

Fenx

Painting - 195 x 130 x 2.5 cm Painting - 76.8 x 51.2 x 1 inch

$17,582

Photography, Kyoto 27, Yasuo Kiyonaga

Yasuo Kiyonaga

Photography - 18 x 23 x 2 cm Photography - 7.1 x 9.1 x 0.8 inch

$285

Photography, Kyoto 22, Yasuo Kiyonaga

Yasuo Kiyonaga

Photography - 23 x 18 x 2 cm Photography - 9.1 x 7.1 x 0.8 inch

$285

Photography, Kyoto 19, Yasuo Kiyonaga

Yasuo Kiyonaga

Photography - 23 x 18 x 2 cm Photography - 9.1 x 7.1 x 0.8 inch

$285

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

$13,095

Painting, Motion 2.2, Eduard Churkin

Eduard Churkin

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

$12,610

Painting, Manarola, Anand Manchiraju

Anand Manchiraju

Painting - 101.6 x 101.6 x 0.3 cm Painting - 40 x 40 x 0.1 inch

$9,000

Painting, Effet vers sens, Veroe

Veroe

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

$291

Painting, Bicentenaire, Chantal Westby

Chantal Westby

Painting - 152 x 102 x 3 cm Painting - 59.8 x 40.2 x 1.2 inch

$6,232

Painting, Sculpture court, Joe Lasker

Joe Lasker

Painting - 61 x 101.6 x 5.1 cm Painting - 24 x 40 x 2 inch

$14,000

Painting, Valley forge, Joe Lasker

Joe Lasker

Painting - 104.1 x 149.9 x 5.1 cm Painting - 41 x 59 x 2 inch

$23,000

Photography, Kyoto 14, Yasuo Kiyonaga

Yasuo Kiyonaga

Photography - 29.7 x 21 x 2 cm Photography - 11.7 x 8.3 x 0.8 inch

$376

Painting, Mleta, Tengiz Cholokava

Tengiz Cholokava

Painting - 18 x 23 x 1 cm Painting - 7.1 x 9.1 x 0.4 inch

$449

Painting, Khu Van Hoa. Hanoi, Loi Duc

Loi Duc

Painting - 80 x 200 x 1 cm Painting - 31.5 x 78.7 x 0.4 inch

$10,610

Painting, Old Barns, Milan Laciak

Milan Laciak

Painting - 30 x 30 x 2 cm Painting - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

$400

Painting, Chez Venus, Veroe

Veroe

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

$218

Painting, Paris + vert., ARySQUE

ARySQUE

Painting - 20 x 20 x 1 cm Painting - 7.9 x 7.9 x 0.4 inch

$364

Painting, Roof View, Melinda Patrick

Melinda Patrick

Painting - 30.5 x 40.6 x 3.8 cm Painting - 12 x 16 x 1.5 inch

$370

Photography, Flooding IV, Romain Liverato

Romain Liverato

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

$788

Painting, Riom-2, Ivan Tzonev

Ivan Tzonev

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

$364

Painting, Pink City, Anand Manchiraju

Anand Manchiraju

Painting - 76.2 x 101.6 x 0.3 cm Painting - 30 x 40 x 0.1 inch

$6,000

Painting, Jungle Pete, Meleo

Meleo

Painting - 24 x 17 x 1 cm Painting - 9.4 x 6.7 x 0.4 inch

$364 $327

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