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, Immersion, Richard Poumelin

Richard Poumelin

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

€2,800

Painting, Emerald Shadows, Nora Shade

Nora Shade

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

€916

Photography, Splash II, Jochen Cerny

Jochen Cerny

Photography . 120.9 x 120.9 x 2.8 cm Photography . 47.6 x 47.6 x 1.1 inch

€4,900

Painting, Aldgate East, David Walker

David Walker

Painting . 39 x 35 cm Painting . 15.4 x 13.8 inch

€1,153

Photography, Fiori, Sébastien Wasseler

Sébastien Wasseler

Photography . 50 x 75 x 0.1 cm Photography . 19.7 x 29.5 x 0 inch

€700

Photography, Dusk on Hamlet way, Francoblanco

Francoblanco

Photography . 90 x 60 x 0.1 cm Photography . 35.4 x 23.6 x 0 inch

€400 €320

Print, Rome, Monika Kropshofer

Monika Kropshofer

Print . 60 x 40 x 2 cm Print . 23.6 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch

€1,000

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, La Ciotat, Sophie Louiset

Sophie Louiset

Painting . 81 x 100 x 2.4 cm Painting . 31.9 x 39.4 x 0.9 inch

€1,900

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

Sculpture, Bohême, K-OD

K-OD

Sculpture . 42 x 42 x 32 cm Sculpture . 16.5 x 16.5 x 12.6 inch

€850 €765

Painting, H-K Beautiful fake, Meleo

Meleo

Painting . 39 x 29 x 4 cm Painting . 15.4 x 11.4 x 1.6 inch

€950

Painting, Dream city II, Rem Pirumov

Rem Pirumov

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

€550

Photography, Shot Sprint, Elena Bandurka

Elena Bandurka

Photography . 40 x 30 x 2 cm Photography . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

€366

Painting, Le caprice, Moi.

Moi.

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

€2,600

Print, Municipo, Alyssa Crosby

Alyssa Crosby

Print . 53.3 x 53.3 cm Print . 21 x 21 inch

€1,328

Painting, De passage, Richard Poumelin

Richard Poumelin

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

€2,750

Painting, Le pont, Trichet Jacques

Trichet Jacques

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

€950

Photography, Zig Zag, Mario Tarantino

Mario Tarantino

Photography . 70 x 50 x 0.3 cm Photography . 27.6 x 19.7 x 0.1 inch

€828

Painting, Arrieta, Chicho

Chicho

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

€2,600

Print, La Place, Bernard Buffet

Bernard Buffet

Print . 55 x 75 x 1 cm Print . 21.7 x 29.5 x 0.4 inch

€2,000

Photography, Memories IV, Victoria Dearing

Victoria Dearing

Photography . 27.5 x 44.5 x 0.3 cm Photography . 10.8 x 17.5 x 0.1 inch

€900

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, Rear Deck, Pierre Riollet

Pierre Riollet

Painting . 97 x 130 x 2 cm Painting . 38.2 x 51.2 x 0.8 inch

€4,800