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!

Read more
Painting, Hidden Wild, Mariah Birsak

Mariah Birsak

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

€1,500

Painting, Rayon Vert 13, Robin Obitz

Robin Obitz

Painting . 97 x 130 x 3 cm Painting . 38.2 x 51.2 x 1.2 inch

€7,000

Painting, Cafe in France, Lluis Ribas

Lluis Ribas

Painting . 24 x 35 x 2 cm Painting . 9.4 x 13.8 x 0.8 inch

€1,750

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

€2,600

Painting, Where day rests, Rob Tucker

Rob Tucker

Painting . 140 x 160 x 1 cm Painting . 55.1 x 63 x 0.4 inch

€16,000

Painting, Barche, Dario Bazan

Dario Bazan

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

€800

Print, Back to the future, Aiiroh

Aiiroh

Print . 75 x 75 x 0.2 cm Print . 29.5 x 29.5 x 0.1 inch

€800

Painting, Icefield Mecha-biotope, Ardif

Ardif

Painting . 100 x 100 x 4 cm Painting . 39.4 x 39.4 x 1.6 inch

€5,400

Painting, Lui, Moi.

Lui

Moi.

Painting . 97 x 146 x 2 cm Painting . 38.2 x 57.5 x 0.8 inch

€3,500

Painting, Boathouses, Bente Halvorsen

Bente Halvorsen

Painting . 60 x 80 x 3 cm Painting . 23.6 x 31.5 x 1.2 inch

€1,200

Painting, Nuits jazz, Bianca Prettau

Bianca Prettau

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

€3,200

Painting, Relaxamento, Sylvie Eudes

Sylvie Eudes

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

€3,600

Painting, View of Bass Rock, Mike Hall

Mike Hall

Painting . 37 x 30 x 1 cm Painting . 14.6 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch

€954

Painting, Régate V.518, Fred Boutet

Fred Boutet

Painting . 50 x 100 x 4 cm Painting . 19.7 x 39.4 x 1.6 inch

€650

Painting, Saburtalo, Irakli Chikovani

Irakli Chikovani

Painting . 78 x 95 x 3 cm Painting . 30.7 x 37.4 x 1.2 inch

€2,000

Painting, H-K Beautiful fake, Meleo

Meleo

Painting . 39 x 29 x 4 cm Painting . 15.4 x 11.4 x 1.6 inch

€950

Painting, It seems Strange., Paul Ward

Paul Ward

Painting . 41.9 x 30.5 x 5.1 cm Painting . 16.5 x 12 x 2 inch

€2,042

Painting, South spirit, Pappay

Pappay

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

€880

Painting, Pelekapina, Rada Tzankova

Rada Tzankova

Painting . 46 x 65 cm Painting . 18.1 x 25.6 inch

€2,400

Painting, Sopot, Tetiana Ocheredko

Tetiana Ocheredko

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

€1,999

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

€10,400

Painting, Urban Shape, Paul Bertier

Paul Bertier

Painting . 81 x 116 cm Painting . 31.9 x 45.7 inch

€3,800

Sculpture, S Portrait, Joël Froment

Joël Froment

Sculpture . 34 x 24 x 4 cm Sculpture . 13.4 x 9.4 x 1.6 inch

€1,400

Painting, Colonnes, Noze

Noze

Painting . 90 x 70 x 4 cm Painting . 35.4 x 27.6 x 1.6 inch

€3,000

Painting, Destino, Olga Afanasiadi

Olga Afanasiadi

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

€1,400

Sculpture, Doxa, Jan Wold

Jan Wold

Sculpture . 45 x 45 x 28 cm Sculpture . 17.7 x 17.7 x 11 inch

€3,200

Painting, Summer Pool, Kosta Morr

Kosta Morr

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

€900

Painting, New Orleans, Yann Letestu

Yann Letestu

Painting . 73 x 54 x 2 cm Painting . 28.7 x 21.3 x 0.8 inch

€2,000

Painting, City in Orange, David Tycho

David Tycho

Painting . 60 x 76 x 2 cm Painting . 23.6 x 29.9 x 0.8 inch

€3,000

Painting, Série N.Y. #3, Koba

Koba

Painting . 73 x 91 x 2 cm Painting . 28.7 x 35.8 x 0.8 inch

€550

Painting, Spring, Mea Ambrozo

Mea Ambrozo

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

€3,200

Painting, Summer Heat, Kosta Morr

Kosta Morr

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

€800