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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, Folegandros, Elena Borstein

Elena Borstein

Painting - 152.4 x 101.6 x 3.8 cm Painting - 60 x 40 x 1.5 inch

€15,973

Painting, Bayamo II, Elena Borstein

Elena Borstein

Painting - 167.6 x 137.2 x 3.6 cm Painting - 66 x 54 x 1.4 inch

€15,973

Painting, Moulin rouge, Volt

Volt

Painting - 60 x 80 x 1 cm Painting - 23.6 x 31.5 x 0.4 inch

€380

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Ernest Salvadó

Ernest Salvadó

Fine Art Drawings - 55 x 91 cm Fine Art Drawings - 21.7 x 35.8 inch

€555

Painting, Thira Sunrise, Elena Borstein

Elena Borstein

Painting - 152.4 x 101.6 x 4.1 cm Painting - 60 x 40 x 1.6 inch

€22,200

Painting, Thira Pathway, Elena Borstein

Elena Borstein

Painting - 152.4 x 101.6 x 4.1 cm Painting - 60 x 40 x 1.6 inch

€20,500

Painting, Artemon Gate, Elena Borstein

Elena Borstein

Painting - 152.4 x 101.6 x 5.1 cm Painting - 60 x 40 x 2 inch

€20,500

Painting, Chinatown, David Tycho

David Tycho

Painting - 101 x 76 x 2 cm Painting - 39.8 x 29.9 x 0.8 inch

€4,600

Painting, Tropic 1, Ramon Enrich

Ramon Enrich

Painting - 131 x 91.5 x 1 cm Painting - 51.6 x 36 x 0.4 inch

€8,800

Painting, Faded, Dyala Khodary

Dyala Khodary

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

€900

Painting, Message, Dyala Khodary

Dyala Khodary

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

€1,000

Painting, Messenger, Dyala Khodary

Dyala Khodary

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

€1,200

Painting, Harvest, Dyala Khodary

Dyala Khodary

Painting - 55 x 52 x 3 cm Painting - 21.7 x 20.5 x 1.2 inch

€1,300

Painting, Enclosed, Dyala Khodary

Dyala Khodary

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

€1,000

Painting, Floral, Dyala Khodary

Dyala Khodary

Painting - 70 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 27.6 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch

€1,800

Painting, South spirit, Pappay

Pappay

Painting - 50 x 50 x 4 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 1.6 inch

€880

Painting, Delmonicos, Marco Barberio

Marco Barberio

Painting - 100 x 70 x 2 cm Painting - 39.4 x 27.6 x 0.8 inch

€2,380

Painting, Selo-S.V, Ivan Tzonev

Ivan Tzonev

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

€1,000

Painting, CityCité, Bianca Prettau

Bianca Prettau

Painting - 120 x 80 x 1 cm Painting - 47.2 x 31.5 x 0.4 inch

€3,000

Painting, Room 2, Tamta Chachanidze

Tamta Chachanidze

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

€800

Painting, Shadow 3, Samiran Boruah

Samiran Boruah

Painting - 70 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 27.6 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch

€500

Painting, Rocamadour, Alain Arnouil

Alain Arnouil

Painting - 70 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 27.6 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch

€750

Painting, Sunset, Trayko Popov

Trayko Popov

Painting - 70 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 27.6 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch

€750

Painting, The rise, Amogh Katyayan

Amogh Katyayan

Painting - 101.6 x 76.2 x 3.8 cm Painting - 40 x 30 x 1.5 inch

€799

Painting, Alto orizzonte, Luigi Iona

Luigi Iona

Painting - 50 x 41 x 0.2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 16.1 x 0.1 inch

€230

Fine Art Drawings, Provencale No. 6, Pascal Plazanet

Pascal Plazanet

Fine Art Drawings - 29.5 x 37 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.6 x 14.6 x 0 inch

€1,400

Fine Art Drawings, Place des Vosges, Pascal Plazanet

Pascal Plazanet

Fine Art Drawings - 29.5 x 36 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.6 x 14.2 x 0 inch

€1,900

Painting, Gotham 1, Tarek

Tarek

Painting - 98 x 206 x 1 cm Painting - 38.6 x 81.1 x 0.4 inch

€8,200

Painting, Boy with Dice, Le Hai Linh

Le Hai Linh

Painting - 100 x 120 x 1 cm Painting - 39.4 x 47.2 x 0.4 inch

€4,275

Painting, Cataclysme, Jérôme Rasto

Jérôme Rasto

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

€750

Photography, Kyoto 26, Yasuo Kiyonaga

Yasuo Kiyonaga

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

€235

Photography, Kyoto 20, Yasuo Kiyonaga

Yasuo Kiyonaga

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

€235

Sculpture, La Brique Bitcoin, JP Malot

JP Malot

Sculpture - 22 x 10 x 5 cm Sculpture - 8.7 x 3.9 x 2 inch

€600

Painting, They work, Andrea Vandoni

Andrea Vandoni

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

€2,900

Painting, Psychic Time 2, Lucio Forte

Lucio Forte

Painting - 29.7 x 21 x 0.1 cm Painting - 11.7 x 8.3 x 0 inch

€170