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, Nostalgie, Jean-Pierre Lorand

Jean-Pierre Lorand

Painting . 30 x 40 x 1 cm Painting . 11.8 x 15.7 x 0.4 inch

€1,250

Painting, Door 5, Nataliya Lemesheva

Nataliya Lemesheva

Painting . 116 x 89 x 3 cm Painting . 45.7 x 35 x 1.2 inch

€3,950

Painting, San Franciso Bay, Vianney

Vianney

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

€2,900

Print, Untitled, Soldevila

Soldevila

Print . 56 x 76 cm Print . 22 x 29.9 inch

€400

Print, Untitled, Joan Cots

Joan Cots

Print . 49.5 x 38 cm Print . 19.5 x 15 inch

€222

Painting, Destino, Olga Afanasiadi

Olga Afanasiadi

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

€1,400

Painting, Blooming, Yuriy Demiyanov

Yuriy Demiyanov

Painting . 50 x 40 x 3 cm Painting . 19.7 x 15.7 x 1.2 inch

€5,600

Photography, Luminescence, Martin Kallay

Martin Kallay

Photography . 45 x 30 x 1 cm Photography . 17.7 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch

€1,200

Painting, Délassement, Sylvie Eudes

Sylvie Eudes

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

€2,800

Painting, Una vida en rosa, Orrite

Orrite

Painting . 92 x 65 x 2 cm Painting . 36.2 x 25.6 x 0.8 inch

€2,975

Painting, Tropic 1, Ramon Enrich

Ramon Enrich

Painting . 131 x 91.5 x 1 cm Painting . 51.6 x 36 x 0.4 inch

€14,400

Print, Can Festival, Mason Storm

Mason Storm

Print . 80 x 62.5 x 0.2 cm Print . 31.5 x 24.6 x 0.1 inch

€1,400

Photography, Diamond, Marcus Cederberg

Marcus Cederberg

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

€200

Painting, City of Lights, Julia Guizani

Julia Guizani

Painting . 91.5 x 91.5 x 2 cm Painting . 36 x 36 x 0.8 inch

€4,500

Painting, Arc de Triomphe, M.Chat

M.Chat

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

€3,400

Painting, Summer Pool, Kosta Morr

Kosta Morr

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

€900

Painting, Berlin, Kadambari Misra

Kadambari Misra

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

€1,105

Fine Art Drawings, Marble House, Pauline Di Valentin

Pauline Di Valentin

Fine Art Drawings . 65 x 50 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 25.6 x 19.7 x 0 inch

€600

Painting, L’Ospite Rosa, Valia

Valia

Painting . 80 x 60 x 0.1 cm Painting . 31.5 x 23.6 x 0 inch

€490

Painting, Observer, Olha Trikolich

Olha Trikolich

Painting . 80 x 70 x 3 cm Painting . 31.5 x 27.6 x 1.2 inch

€1,550

Painting, Next Door, Gohar Goddard

Gohar Goddard

Painting . 51 x 51 x 2 cm Painting . 20.1 x 20.1 x 0.8 inch

€1,457

Photography, Keyhole, Alain Boccard

Alain Boccard

Photography . 80 x 80 x 0.5 cm Photography . 31.5 x 31.5 x 0.2 inch

€690

Painting, The houses, Claude Decamps

Claude Decamps

Painting . 25 x 20 x 0.1 cm Painting . 9.8 x 7.9 x 0 inch

€340

Photography, Golden Flame, Juan Pablo Castro

Juan Pablo Castro

Photography . 152.4 x 203.2 x 0.3 cm Photography . 60 x 80 x 0.1 inch

€5,496

Fine Art Drawings, XX164175, Pierre Muckensturm

Pierre Muckensturm

Fine Art Drawings . 42 x 29.7 cm Fine Art Drawings . 16.5 x 11.7 inch

€700

Painting, Verano, Nigel Bailey

Nigel Bailey

Painting . 30.4 x 30.4 x 0.3 cm Painting . 12 x 12 x 0.1 inch

€1,025

Photography, Hereges, Yan Carpenter

Yan Carpenter

Photography . 100 x 80 x 1 cm Photography . 39.4 x 31.5 x 0.4 inch

€900

Photography, Copenhague, Yuhao Pan

Yuhao Pan

Photography . 70 x 50 x 0.2 cm Photography . 27.6 x 19.7 x 0.1 inch

€800

Painting, Door 3, Nataliya Lemesheva

Nataliya Lemesheva

Painting . 116 x 89 x 2 cm Painting . 45.7 x 35 x 0.8 inch

€3,950

Photography, Lisbon #6 (S), Jacob Gils

Jacob Gils

Photography . 55.9 x 109.2 cm Photography . 22 x 43 inch

€9,251

Painting, Mahal, Clotaire Lehoux

Clotaire Lehoux

Painting . 180 x 160 x 0.5 cm Painting . 70.9 x 63 x 0.2 inch

€4,000