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, Rokko, Elena Borstein

Elena Borstein

Painting . 76.2 x 101.6 x 3.8 cm Painting . 30 x 40 x 1.5 inch

€9,027

Painting, Copenhagen, Nigel Bailey

Nigel Bailey

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

€532

Painting, Blue Dusk, Amy Nelder

Amy Nelder

Painting . 76.2 x 101.6 x 3.8 cm Painting . 30 x 40 x 1.5 inch

€8,350

Painting, Village de campagne 2, Xiu

Xiu

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

€600

Painting, Village 102, Xiu

Xiu

Painting . 40 x 40 x 1 cm Painting . 15.7 x 15.7 x 0.4 inch

€600

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

Painting, Impasse des ateliers, Calat

Calat

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

€625

Painting, View of Portsoy, Mike Hall

Mike Hall

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

€960

Painting, Georgia is Here, Nino Nasidze

Nino Nasidze

Painting . 120 x 100 x 2 cm Painting . 47.2 x 39.4 x 0.8 inch

€2,700

Painting, Lyon 2070, Charlotte Pivard

Charlotte Pivard

Painting . 50 x 100 x 3 cm Painting . 19.7 x 39.4 x 1.2 inch

€2,000

Painting, Village II, Xiu

Xiu

Painting . 40 x 40 x 1 cm Painting . 15.7 x 15.7 x 0.4 inch

€600

Painting, Flow, Mirtha Otaño

Mirtha Otaño

Painting . 63 x 93 x 4 cm Painting . 24.8 x 36.6 x 1.6 inch

€2,990

Painting, Flying Circus, Elena Borstein

Elena Borstein

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

€7,222

Fine Art Drawings, Untitled, Ernest Salvadó

Ernest Salvadó

Fine Art Drawings . 90 x 54 cm Fine Art Drawings . 35.4 x 21.3 inch

€555

Painting, Notre Dame de Paris (1), PyB

PyB

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

€120

Painting, I Love NY, Katrina Avotina

Katrina Avotina

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

€2,129

Painting, Box I, Brent Hallard

Brent Hallard

Painting . 35.5 x 35.5 cm Painting . 14 x 14 inch

€966

Painting, Beach house, Laura Newman

Laura Newman

Painting . 183 x 142 cm Painting . 72 x 55.9 inch

€14,670

Painting, L'avion, Nigel Bailey

Nigel Bailey

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

€700

Painting, Vienna, Irakli Chikovani

Irakli Chikovani

Painting . 74 x 88 x 3 cm Painting . 29.1 x 34.6 x 1.2 inch

€1,600

Painting, Estate infinita, Moi.

Moi.

Painting . 116 x 81 x 2 cm Painting . 45.7 x 31.9 x 0.8 inch

€3,200

Painting, Chinatown, David Tycho

David Tycho

Painting . 101 x 76 x 2 cm Painting . 39.8 x 29.9 x 0.8 inch

€4,600

Painting, Home, Vitaliy Lishko

Vitaliy Lishko

Painting . 70 x 180 x 2 cm Painting . 27.6 x 70.9 x 0.8 inch

€6,500

Painting, Autumn Landscape, Kosta Morr

Kosta Morr

Painting . 42 x 30 x 0.2 cm Painting . 16.5 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

€250

Painting, Vienna, Irakli Chikovani

Irakli Chikovani

Painting . 73 x 94 x 3 cm Painting . 28.7 x 37 x 1.2 inch

€1,800

Painting, Architecture, Max Yaskin

Max Yaskin

Painting . 100 x 200 x 1 cm Painting . 39.4 x 78.7 x 0.4 inch

€1,950

Painting, Selo V, Ivan Tzonev

Ivan Tzonev

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

€80

Painting, Certaldo, Andrzej Borowski

Andrzej Borowski

Painting . 40 x 30 cm Painting . 15.7 x 11.8 inch

€1,300

Painting, Gateway 4, Brian Elwell

Brian Elwell

Painting . 40 x 40 x 1 cm Painting . 15.7 x 15.7 x 0.4 inch

€785

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

€7,222

Painting, Babylone, Ceet Fouad

Ceet Fouad

Painting . 200 x 150 x 3 cm Painting . 78.7 x 59.1 x 1.2 inch

€18,000

Painting, Smith's store, Pappay

Pappay

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

€530

Painting, Farmyard, Milan Laciak

Milan Laciak

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

€925

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, Croatia I, Sona Adalyan

Sona Adalyan

Painting . 70 x 50 x 2 cm Painting . 27.6 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch

€699

Painting, Dream Builder, Jia Yuan Hua

Jia Yuan Hua

Painting . 60 x 50 x 4 cm Painting . 23.6 x 19.7 x 1.6 inch

€2,100

Painting, Pégase, Bernard Vié

Bernard Vié

Painting . 120 x 120 x 3 cm Painting . 47.2 x 47.2 x 1.2 inch

€3,000