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, Sybelstrasse, Nigel Bailey

Nigel Bailey

Painting . 35.5 x 45.8 x 0.5 cm Painting . 14 x 18 x 0.2 inch

€850

Painting, Le phare, Abera Cad

Abera Cad

Painting . 92 x 73 x 2 cm Painting . 36.2 x 28.7 x 0.8 inch

€689

Painting, Morning View, Sona Adalyan

Sona Adalyan

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

€290

Painting, Pool at 9.17 PM, Kseniya Rai

Kseniya Rai

Painting . 100 x 150 x 2 cm Painting . 39.4 x 59.1 x 0.8 inch

€890

Painting, Pont bleu, Maylis Bourdet

Maylis Bourdet

Painting . 120 x 90 x 2 cm Painting . 47.2 x 35.4 x 0.8 inch

€1,660

Painting, Havane, Mea Ambrozo

Mea Ambrozo

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

€2,500

Painting, Le plongeoir, Maylis Bourdet

Maylis Bourdet

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

€1,680

Painting, On Grant, Nigel Bailey

Nigel Bailey

Painting . 35.5 x 45.8 x 0.5 cm Painting . 14 x 18 x 0.2 inch

€900 €810

Painting, Le lac majeur, Michel Das

Michel Das

Painting . 72 x 92 x 3 cm Painting . 28.3 x 36.2 x 1.2 inch

€2,000

Painting, Memories 10, Almazan Miquel

Almazan Miquel

Painting . 65 x 50 x 1 cm Painting . 25.6 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch

€1,000

Painting, Sans titre, Ceet Fouad

Ceet Fouad

Painting . 80 x 30 x 0.3 cm Painting . 31.5 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

€2,200

Painting, Lake House, Kosta Morr

Kosta Morr

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

€800

Painting, Constancy, Ksenia Tsyganyuk

Ksenia Tsyganyuk

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

€1,200

Painting, Lake House 2, Kosta Morr

Kosta Morr

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

€800

Painting, September, Alain Churlaud

Alain Churlaud

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

€800

Painting, Saint-Lazare, Samiran Boruah

Samiran Boruah

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

€2,000

Painting, Naples Walk, Melinda Patrick

Melinda Patrick

Painting . 45.7 x 45.7 x 3.8 cm Painting . 18 x 18 x 1.5 inch

€670

Painting, Megne I, Franck Kemkeng Noah

Franck Kemkeng Noah

Painting . 120 x 168 x 2 cm Painting . 47.2 x 66.1 x 0.8 inch

€6,800

Painting, Labyrinthe, Remi Delaplace

Remi Delaplace

Painting . 65 x 100 x 3 cm Painting . 25.6 x 39.4 x 1.2 inch

€2,990

Painting, Loft, Disek

Disek

Painting . 100 x 100 cm Painting . 39.4 x 39.4 inch

€2,800

Painting, Zaanse Schans, Kosta Morr

Kosta Morr

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

€1,050

Painting, Abandoned diner, Pappay

Pappay

Painting . 80 x 80 x 4 cm Painting . 31.5 x 31.5 x 1.6 inch

€1,900 €1,425

Painting, Moment bleu, Em'Ji

Em'Ji

Painting . 62 x 90 x 2 cm Painting . 24.4 x 35.4 x 0.8 inch

€1,800

Painting, Croisière, Sylvie Eudes

Sylvie Eudes

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

€3,600

Painting, Urban 1, Friedhard Meyer

Friedhard Meyer

Painting . 60 x 80 x 5 cm Painting . 23.6 x 31.5 x 2 inch

€1,100

Painting, Composition 307, Xiu

Xiu

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

€1,800

Painting, Evening Cafe II, Kosta Morr

Kosta Morr

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

€900

Painting, Japanese Square, Kosta Morr

Kosta Morr

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

€1,000

Painting, Time and trust, Poovi Art

Poovi Art

Painting . 45.7 x 61 x 2.5 cm Painting . 18 x 24 x 1 inch

€228 €205

Painting, Osmose 06,1, Paul Gallaud

Paul Gallaud

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

€1,700

Painting, Paris II, Dima Gorban

Dima Gorban

Painting . 62 x 62 x 3 cm Painting . 24.4 x 24.4 x 1.2 inch

€1,180

Painting, Plier, Remi Delaplace

Remi Delaplace

Painting . 50 x 150 x 3 cm Painting . 19.7 x 59.1 x 1.2 inch

€1,990

Painting, Au bord de l'Aveyron, Navema

Navema

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

€960