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, Je so' pazzo, Simon Kroug

Je so' pazzo

Simon Kroug

Painting - 96 x 65.5 x 0.01 cm Painting - 37.8 x 25.8 x 0 inch

$1,356

Sculpture, Le passage, Éric Théret

Le passage

Éric Théret

Sculpture - 410 x 560 x 170 cm Sculpture - 161.4 x 220.5 x 66.9 inch

$809,111

Photography, Courtesan, Arkadiy Kurta

Courtesan

Arkadiy Kurta

Photography - 40.6 x 50.8 cm Photography - 16 x 20 inch

$1,271

Painting, CityCité, Bianca Prettau

CityCité

Bianca Prettau

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

$3,468

Painting, Il futuro, Moi.

Il futuro

Moi.

Painting - 30 x 20 x 1.5 cm Painting - 11.8 x 7.9 x 0.6 inch

$578

Painting, Il presente, Moi.

Il presente

Moi.

Painting - 30 x 20 x 1.5 cm Painting - 11.8 x 7.9 x 0.6 inch

$578

Painting, Il passato, Moi.

Il passato

Moi.

Painting - 30 x 20 x 1.5 cm Painting - 11.8 x 7.9 x 0.6 inch

$578

Painting, Le alte mura, Moi.

Le alte mura

Moi.

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

$1,734

Painting, Struttura del tempo, Moi.

Struttura del tempo

Moi.

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

$2,543

Photography, Eur Roma, Jason Pocklington

Eur Roma

Jason Pocklington

Photography - 64 x 44 x 1 cm Photography - 25.2 x 17.3 x 0.4 inch

$277

Photography, This blue dream, Rodrigo

This blue dream

Rodrigo

Photography - 25.9 x 34.5 x 0.1 cm Photography - 10.2 x 13.6 x 0 inch

$809

Photography, Apartments, Marcus Cederberg

Apartments

Marcus Cederberg

Photography - 70 x 50 x 0.1 cm Photography - 27.6 x 19.7 x 0 inch

$231 $208

Photography, Girl power, Marcus Cederberg

Girl power

Marcus Cederberg

Photography - 70 x 50 x 0.1 cm Photography - 27.6 x 19.7 x 0 inch

$231 $208

Sculpture, Double Time, Philip Hearsey

Double Time

Philip Hearsey

Sculpture - 18.5 x 14.5 x 15 cm Sculpture - 7.3 x 5.7 x 5.9 inch

$1,335

Photography, Ocean view, Marcus Cederberg

Ocean view

Marcus Cederberg

Photography - 70 x 50 x 0.1 cm Photography - 27.6 x 19.7 x 0 inch

$231 $208

Photography, Mirages #0, Javier Rey

Mirages #0

Javier Rey

Photography - 75 x 55 x 0.3 cm Photography - 29.5 x 21.7 x 0.1 inch

$1,215

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