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, Axis, Ludovic Mercher

Ludovic Mercher

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

€800

Painting, Swimming pool, Mea Ambrozo

Mea Ambrozo

Painting . 50 x 73 x 4 cm Painting . 19.7 x 28.7 x 1.6 inch

€4,200

Painting, Nova 220, Mea Ambrozo

Mea Ambrozo

Painting . 33 x 46 x 1 cm Painting . 13 x 18.1 x 0.4 inch

€3,000

Painting, Portal, Aurélie Trabaud

Aurélie Trabaud

Painting . 23 x 23 x 0.1 cm Painting . 9.1 x 9.1 x 0 inch

€495

Painting, 01-19, Macyn Bolt

Macyn Bolt

Painting . 40.6 x 50.8 cm Painting . 16 x 20 inch

€785

Painting, Jazz a Nice, Richard Boigeol

Richard Boigeol

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

€3,400

Painting, Santorini, Alexandra Djokic

Alexandra Djokic

Painting . 96.8 x 65 x 0.1 cm Painting . 38.1 x 25.6 x 0 inch

€980

Painting, Deep forest, Mea Ambrozo

Mea Ambrozo

Painting . 55 x 38 x 1 cm Painting . 21.7 x 15 x 0.4 inch

€3,000

Painting, Io sono che que sono, Moi.

Moi.

Painting . 150 x 150 x 2.4 cm Painting . 59.1 x 59.1 x 0.9 inch

€5,500

Painting, Bank Street 2, Nigel Bailey

Nigel Bailey

Painting . 30.4 x 30.4 x 0.3 cm Painting . 12 x 12 x 0.1 inch

€300 €270

Painting, Screenshot, Mea Ambrozo

Mea Ambrozo

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

€2,700

Painting, Selo G, Ivan Tzonev

Ivan Tzonev

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

€80

Painting, Paysage chinois 715, Xiu

Xiu

Painting . 50 x 20 x 1 cm Painting . 19.7 x 7.9 x 0.4 inch

€600

Painting, Paysage chinois 710, Xiu

Xiu

Painting . 50 x 20 x 1 cm Painting . 19.7 x 7.9 x 0.4 inch

€600

Painting, Traveler, Alexandra Djokic

Alexandra Djokic

Painting . 100 x 70 x 0.1 cm Painting . 39.4 x 27.6 x 0 inch

€1,500

Painting, Paysage tagué, Zafi

Zafi

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

€1,800

Painting, The sting, Rudyard Heaton

Rudyard Heaton

Painting . 80 x 80 x 2.5 cm Painting . 31.5 x 31.5 x 1 inch

€900

Painting, Meltemi I, Elena Borstein

Elena Borstein

Painting . 114.3 x 91.4 x 3.8 cm Painting . 45 x 36 x 1.5 inch

€7,320

Painting, French Rivieros, Ceet Fouad

Ceet Fouad

Painting . 140 x 70 x 2.5 cm Painting . 55.1 x 27.6 x 1 inch

€7,300

Painting, Campos, Sylvie Eudes

Sylvie Eudes

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

€3,600

Painting, Slopes B2, Daniel Göttin

Daniel Göttin

Painting . 30 x 24 cm Painting . 11.8 x 9.4 inch

€2,415

Painting, Monica, Soon

Soon

Painting . 60 x 60 x 2.1 cm Painting . 23.6 x 23.6 x 0.8 inch

€400

Painting, Square, Benoît Tranchant

Benoît Tranchant

Painting . 160 x 160 x 2 cm Painting . 63 x 63 x 0.8 inch

€8,000

Painting, Apparent, Mirtha Otaño

Mirtha Otaño

Painting . 70 x 100 x 4 cm Painting . 27.6 x 39.4 x 1.6 inch

€2,990

Painting, Morning Light, Mike Hall

Mike Hall

Painting . 30 x 35 x 1 cm Painting . 11.8 x 13.8 x 0.4 inch

€960

Painting, Bank Street, Nigel Bailey

Nigel Bailey

Painting . 30.4 x 30.4 x 0.3 cm Painting . 12 x 12 x 0.1 inch

€300 €270

Painting, I Love NY, Katrina Avotina

Katrina Avotina

Painting . 81 x 61 x 2 cm Painting . 31.9 x 24 x 0.8 inch

€2,158

Painting, Post Apocalypse 7, Han Qi

Han Qi

Painting . 65 x 50 x 2 cm Painting . 25.6 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch

€1,400

Painting, Nice II, Andrzej Borowski

Andrzej Borowski

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

€2,500