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, Socialites, Slim Aarons

Socialites

Slim Aarons

Photography - 76.2 x 76.2 cm Photography - 30 x 30 inch

$3,612

Painting, Memories, Marta Zawadzka

Memories

Marta Zawadzka

Painting - 100 x 120 x 2 cm Painting - 39.4 x 47.2 x 0.8 inch

$3,167

Photography, 00H00, Julie Peiffer

00H00

Julie Peiffer

Photography - 50 x 50 cm Photography - 19.7 x 19.7 inch

$925

Photography, C. Z. Guest, Slim Aarons

C. Z. Guest

Slim Aarons

Photography - 101 x 76 x 0.01 cm Photography - 39.8 x 29.9 x 0 inch

$4,612

Painting, Selo - N, Ivan Tzonev

Selo - N

Ivan Tzonev

Painting - 29 x 29 x 2 cm Painting - 11.4 x 11.4 x 0.8 inch

$185

Painting, Seven, Eric Turlot

Seven

Eric Turlot

Painting - 50 x 61 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 24 x 0.8 inch

$902

Painting, Selo J1, Ivan Tzonev

Selo J1

Ivan Tzonev

Painting - 29 x 29 x 4 cm Painting - 11.4 x 11.4 x 1.6 inch

$185

Painting, Embrasement, Muriel Deumie

Embrasement

Muriel Deumie

Painting - 73 x 100 x 2 cm Painting - 28.7 x 39.4 x 0.8 inch

$1,387

Painting, Venice, Lusie Schellenberg

Venice

Lusie Schellenberg

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

$1,040

Painting, Confidences, Céline Dabot

Confidences

Céline Dabot

Painting - 100 x 73 x 2 cm Painting - 39.4 x 28.7 x 0.8 inch

$1,572

Painting, Chez Soi, Sylvie Eudes

Chez Soi

Sylvie Eudes

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

$5,201

Painting, Boat House,, Mark Hunter

Boat House,

Mark Hunter

Painting - 22.9 x 48.3 x 0.3 cm Painting - 9 x 19 x 0.1 inch

$700

Print, Réappropriation5, Kurar

Réappropriation5

Kurar

Print - 40 x 50 x 0.1 cm Print - 15.7 x 19.7 x 0 inch

$196

Painting, Les amies, Sylvie Eudes

Les amies

Sylvie Eudes

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

$4,161

Painting, Balcony, Anthony Dunphy

Balcony

Anthony Dunphy

Painting - 40.6 x 50.8 x 0.8 cm Painting - 16 x 20 x 0.3 inch

$827

Painting, Jerusalem, Clara Duch

Jerusalem

Clara Duch

Painting - 81 x 100 x 2.5 cm Painting - 31.9 x 39.4 x 1 inch

$3,236

Painting, Venice, Clara Duch

Venice

Clara Duch

Painting - 85 x 63 x 2.5 cm Painting - 33.5 x 24.8 x 1 inch

$3,236

Painting, Prague, Clara Duch

Prague

Clara Duch

Painting - 100 x 100 x 2.5 cm Painting - 39.4 x 39.4 x 1 inch

$3,468

Painting, Winter, Clara Duch

Winter

Clara Duch

Painting - 81 x 100 x 2.5 cm Painting - 31.9 x 39.4 x 1 inch

$3,236

Painting, Morning Star, Clara Duch

Morning Star

Clara Duch

Painting - 73 x 92 x 2.5 cm Painting - 28.7 x 36.2 x 1 inch

$3,236

Painting, Summer day, Shapoval Ivan

Summer day

Shapoval Ivan

Painting - 50 x 67 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 26.4 x 0.8 inch

$682

Photography, Bleu Fira, Tanguy Mendrisse

Bleu Fira

Tanguy Mendrisse

Photography - 40 x 30 x 0.1 cm Photography - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch

$185

Painting, Brooklyn, Tony Soulié

Brooklyn

Tony Soulié

Painting - 125 x 180 x 5 cm Painting - 49.2 x 70.9 x 2 inch

$20,806

Photography, MP096, Yasuo Kiyonaga

MP096

Yasuo Kiyonaga

Photography - 48.3 x 32.9 x 0.1 cm Photography - 19 x 13 x 0 inch

$578

Print, Élévation, Kurar

Élévation

Kurar

Print - 40 x 40 x 0.1 cm Print - 15.7 x 15.7 x 0 inch

$196

Print, Élévation, Kurar

Élévation

Kurar

Print - 70 x 70 x 0.1 cm Print - 27.6 x 27.6 x 0 inch

$405

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