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, Reed, Ragnhild Lundén

Ragnhild Lundén

Painting . 180 x 140 x 2 cm Painting . 70.9 x 55.1 x 0.8 inch

€24,000

Painting, Barfleur, Pascal Plazanet

Pascal Plazanet

Painting . 30 x 30 x 2 cm Painting . 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

€1,900

Painting, Kinsale, Véro Blaise

Véro Blaise

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

€800

Painting, Selo - R, Ivan Tzonev

Ivan Tzonev

Painting . 89 x 130 x 2 cm Painting . 35 x 51.2 x 0.8 inch

€1,200

Painting, Céleste, Juliette Lamarca

Juliette Lamarca

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

€1,300

Painting, Arrieta, Chicho

Chicho

Painting . 100 x 70 x 3 cm Painting . 39.4 x 27.6 x 1.2 inch

€2,600

Painting, Cabal de ferro, David Casals

David Casals

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

€1,560

Painting, Venice, Alexandra Djokic

Alexandra Djokic

Painting . 104 x 80.3 x 0.1 cm Painting . 40.9 x 31.6 x 0 inch

€4,900

Painting, Daydreams, Joso Hanhausen

Joso Hanhausen

Painting . 100 x 80 x 3 cm Painting . 39.4 x 31.5 x 1.2 inch

€3,000

Painting, Standing Opera, Veroe

Veroe

Painting . 20 x 20 x 2 cm Painting . 7.9 x 7.9 x 0.8 inch

€90

Painting, Dream city II, Rem Pirumov

Rem Pirumov

Painting . 60 x 35 cm Painting . 23.6 x 13.8 inch

€550

Painting, Corte Formenta, Nigel Bailey

Nigel Bailey

Painting . 40.3 x 51 x 0.3 cm Painting . 15.9 x 20.1 x 0.1 inch

€900

Painting, shelters, Poovi Art

Poovi Art

Painting . 121.9 x 152.4 x 5.1 cm Painting . 48 x 60 x 2 inch

€1,696

Painting, An evening, Marta Rynkiewicz

Marta Rynkiewicz

Painting . 120 x 150 x 2 cm Painting . 47.2 x 59.1 x 0.8 inch

€3,500

Painting, Cinéma, Sylvie Schambill

Sylvie Schambill

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

€1,200

Painting, Vel de fang, David Casals

David Casals

Painting . 40 x 40 x 2 cm Painting . 15.7 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch

€1,050

Painting, Jeu, set et match !, Chufy

Chufy

Painting . 130 x 97 x 1.5 cm Painting . 51.2 x 38.2 x 0.6 inch

€3,000

Painting, A Hard Man, Rob Croxford

Rob Croxford

Painting . 56 x 56 x 1.5 cm Painting . 22 x 22 x 0.6 inch

€700

Painting, Yellow Barn, Roy Fairchild

Roy Fairchild

Painting . 53 x 85 x 2 cm Painting . 20.9 x 33.5 x 0.8 inch

€2,530

Painting, Imbrications, Sophie Hors

Sophie Hors

Painting . 47 x 37 x 3 cm Painting . 18.5 x 14.6 x 1.2 inch

€900

Painting, Wouki, Paul Richard Mason

Paul Richard Mason

Painting . 160 x 120 x 2 cm Painting . 63 x 47.2 x 0.8 inch

€9,500

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, GA-BLA, Ramon Enrich

Ramon Enrich

Painting . 30 x 30 x 3 cm Painting . 11.8 x 11.8 x 1.2 inch

€6,000

Painting, Jeu d'Enfant, Sylvie Eudes

Sylvie Eudes

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

€3,600

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, Sidni, Stephanie Blaess

Stephanie Blaess

Painting . 80 x 120 x 3.5 cm Painting . 31.5 x 47.2 x 1.4 inch

€3,750

Painting, Blue loft, Disek

Disek

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

€1,700

Painting, Amazing palace, Mani Mustafa

Mani Mustafa

Painting . 50 x 70 x 0.1 cm Painting . 19.7 x 27.6 x 0 inch

€1,800

Painting, Manhattan, Michèle Sala

Michèle Sala

Painting . 50 x 61 x 2 cm Painting . 19.7 x 24 x 0.8 inch

€800

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, Light Fire, Cinz

Cinz

Painting . 195 x 130 x 4 cm Painting . 76.8 x 51.2 x 1.6 inch

€4,931

Painting, Break, Sylvie Eudes

Sylvie Eudes

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

€2,800

Painting, Berlin, Kadambari Misra

Kadambari Misra

Painting . 58 x 89 x 1 cm Painting . 22.8 x 35 x 0.4 inch

€1,105