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, Corner lights, Carlos Diaz

Corner lights

Carlos Diaz

Painting - 73 x 92 x 4 cm Painting - 28.7 x 36.2 x 1.6 inch

$5,007

Painting, Blue, Helen Uter

Blue

Helen Uter

Painting - 116 x 89 x 2.5 cm Painting - 45.7 x 35 x 1 inch

$4,172

Painting, Village 28, Daozhou Huang

Village 28

Daozhou Huang

Painting - 30 x 40 x 2 cm Painting - 11.8 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch

$596

Print, Cui-Cui, Bault

Cui-Cui

Bault

Print - 70 x 50 cm Print - 27.6 x 19.7 inch

$107

Painting, Cubisme 2.0, Alione

Cubisme 2.0

Alione

Painting - 140 x 140 x 3 cm Painting - 55.1 x 55.1 x 1.2 inch

$9,656

Print, Venice, Virgilio Guidi

Venice

Virgilio Guidi

Print - 56 x 70 x 0.3 cm Print - 22 x 27.6 x 0.1 inch

$358

Painting, Barche, Dario Bazan

Barche

Dario Bazan

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

$954

Fine Art Drawings, Réappropriation 13, Kurar

Réappropriation 13

Kurar

Fine Art Drawings - 70 x 100 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 27.6 x 39.4 x 0.4 inch

$3,934

Painting, La bistro, Viktor Shvaiko

La bistro

Viktor Shvaiko

Painting - 61 x 81.3 x 2.5 cm Painting - 24 x 32 x 1 inch

$8,200

Painting, Untitled, Mauro Bellucci

Untitled

Mauro Bellucci

Painting - 50 x 50 x 0.1 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0 inch

$1,192

Print, Edifice, Jeremy Geddes

Edifice

Jeremy Geddes

Print - 81 x 61 cm Print - 31.9 x 24 inch

$805 $725

Photography, Napoli, Gabriele Basilico

Napoli

Gabriele Basilico

Photography - 102 x 130 x 2 cm Photography - 40.2 x 51.2 x 0.8 inch

$11,921

Painting, The city, Clara Duch

The city

Clara Duch

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

$2,980

Print, Blindspot, Richard Serra

Blindspot

Richard Serra

Print - 88.9 x 102.9 x 1.3 cm Print - 35 x 40.5 x 0.5 inch

$1,200

Fine Art Drawings, Chicago, Josep Maria Mejan

Chicago

Josep Maria Mejan

Fine Art Drawings - 14 x 10.7 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 5.5 x 4.2 x 0 inch

$775

Sculpture, Skywalker, Benjamin Pietri

Skywalker

Benjamin Pietri

Sculpture - 26 x 19.5 x 5.5 cm Sculpture - 10.2 x 7.7 x 2.2 inch

$715

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