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, Jungle Pete, Meleo

Meleo

Painting . 24 x 17 x 1 cm Painting . 9.4 x 6.7 x 0.4 inch

€300

Sculpture, Tour Eiffel logos, PyB

PyB

Sculpture . 32 x 15 x 6 cm Sculpture . 12.6 x 5.9 x 2.4 inch

€190

Painting, Somewhere, Bente Halvorsen

Bente Halvorsen

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

€1,800

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, Elprup, Ramon Enrich

Ramon Enrich

Painting . 110 x 125 x 2 cm Painting . 43.3 x 49.2 x 0.8 inch

€15,600

Painting, Lighthouse, Tinatin Bakhtadze

Tinatin Bakhtadze

Painting . 80 x 50 x 3 cm Painting . 31.5 x 19.7 x 1.2 inch

€1,600

Painting, Bronze age, Ludovic Mercher

Ludovic Mercher

Painting . 130 x 97 x 2.5 cm Painting . 51.2 x 38.2 x 1 inch

€1,500

Painting, Le cocon, Mea Ambrozo

Mea Ambrozo

Painting . 33 x 41 x 1 cm Painting . 13 x 16.1 x 0.4 inch

€1,500

Painting, Altstadt, Friedhard Meyer

Friedhard Meyer

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

€1,280

Painting, Moulin rouge, Volt

Volt

Painting . 60 x 80 x 1 cm Painting . 23.6 x 31.5 x 0.4 inch

€300

Painting, Temple lotus. Fiery., AreiRa

AreiRa

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

€1,100

Painting, Osmose 5, Paul Gallaud

Paul Gallaud

Painting . 100 x 60 x 3 cm Painting . 39.4 x 23.6 x 1.2 inch

€2,800

Painting, Paris I, Dima Gorban

Dima Gorban

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

€1,180

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

Painting, Palmspring 1, Timm Blandin

Timm Blandin

Painting . 75 x 101 x 2 cm Painting . 29.5 x 39.8 x 0.8 inch

€4,200

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, Sunset Boulevard, LOg

LOg

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

€750

Painting, Joy factory!, Marta Zawadzka

Marta Zawadzka

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

€5,500

Painting, A quiet spot, Valerie Le Meur

Valerie Le Meur

Painting . 81 x 100 x 2 cm Painting . 31.9 x 39.4 x 0.8 inch

€2,500

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, Emerald Shadows, Nora Shade

Nora Shade

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

€897 €808

Painting, Rock the city, Meleo

Meleo

Painting . 11 x 16 x 1 cm Painting . 4.3 x 6.3 x 0.4 inch

€150

Painting, Gallery II, Iszchan Nazarian

Iszchan Nazarian

Painting . 101 x 126 x 3 cm Painting . 39.8 x 49.6 x 1.2 inch

€1,900

Painting, Al-Batín, Marta Aguirre

Marta Aguirre

Painting . 146 x 114 cm Painting . 57.5 x 44.9 inch

€5,700

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, Time and trust, Poovi Art

Poovi Art

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

€224

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, Saint Augustine, Marco Araldi

Marco Araldi

Painting . 110 x 50.5 x 5 cm Painting . 43.3 x 19.9 x 2 inch

€3,011

Painting, Venise 2, Daniel Jung

Daniel Jung

Painting . 100 x 80 x 2.5 cm Painting . 39.4 x 31.5 x 1 inch

€1,350

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, Light Over Lazio, Nora Shade

Nora Shade

Painting . 60 x 97 x 0.1 cm Painting . 23.6 x 38.2 x 0 inch

€987 €888

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, Back in the days, Meleo

Meleo

Painting . 19 x 14 x 1 cm Painting . 7.5 x 5.5 x 0.4 inch

€250

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, Gabriel, Thomas Jeunet

Thomas Jeunet

Painting . 146 x 96 x 3.5 cm Painting . 57.5 x 37.8 x 1.4 inch

€690

Painting, Diamond bridge, Ana Maria Kis

Ana Maria Kis

Painting . 45.72 x 60.96 x 1.27 cm Painting . 18 x 24 x 0.5 inch

€1,100

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, 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, Portal, Aurélie Trabaud

Aurélie Trabaud

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

€495