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, Where day rests, Rob Tucker

Rob Tucker

Painting . 140 x 160 x 1 cm Painting . 55.1 x 63 x 0.4 inch

$18,737

Photography, Splash II, Jochen Cerny

Jochen Cerny

Photography . 100 x 100 x 3 cm Photography . 39.4 x 39.4 x 1.2 inch

$6,394

Painting, Sans titre, Walter Strack

Walter Strack

Painting . 120 x 80 x 4.5 cm Painting . 47.2 x 31.5 x 1.8 inch

$3,045

Painting, Pool House, Noze

Noze

Painting . 160 x 130 x 4 cm Painting . 63 x 51.2 x 1.6 inch

$6,441

Sculpture, Ann 03 24 02.23, Yves Tilly

Yves Tilly

Sculpture . 33 x 14 x 8 cm Sculpture . 13 x 5.5 x 3.1 inch

$1,487

Sculpture, Transplantation 3, VAM

VAM

Sculpture . 35 x 20 x 20 cm Sculpture . 13.8 x 7.9 x 7.9 inch

$1,405

Painting, Backyards, Michael Cameron

Michael Cameron

Painting . 41 x 41 x 4 cm Painting . 16.1 x 16.1 x 1.6 inch

$937

Painting, Venise, Josselin Bodley

Josselin Bodley

Painting . 46 x 38 x 2 cm Painting . 18.1 x 15 x 0.8 inch

$1,302

Painting, Aix Cafe, Brian Elwell

Brian Elwell

Painting . 29 x 61 x 1 cm Painting . 11.4 x 24 x 0.4 inch

$1,137

Painting, Wintery, Nelli Tsenova

Nelli Tsenova

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

$1,077

Painting, Cafe in France, Lluis Ribas

Lluis Ribas

Painting . 24 x 35 x 2 cm Painting . 9.4 x 13.8 x 0.8 inch

$2,049

Painting, City View, Lusine Abrahamyan

Lusine Abrahamyan

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

$1,757 $1,581

Painting, Untitled, Kcho

Kcho

Painting . 199.898 x 199.898 x 3.175 cm Painting . 78.7 x 78.7 x 1.3 inch

$21,453

Painting, Pont Neuf, Paris, Armand

Armand

Painting . 46.5 x 65 x 1.5 cm Painting . 18.3 x 25.6 x 0.6 inch

$1,495

Painting, Ocean austral, Mea Ambrozo

Mea Ambrozo

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

$2,928

Print, Blue Birds, Stom500

Stom500

Print . 70 x 100 x 0.3 cm Print . 27.6 x 39.4 x 0.1 inch

$234

Painting, Landscape, Emilio Tejada

Emilio Tejada

Painting . 63.5 x 70.5 x 3 cm Painting . 25 x 27.8 x 1.2 inch

$1,405

Painting, Casa al mare, Julius Seyler

Julius Seyler

Painting . 63 x 77 x 0.5 cm Painting . 24.8 x 30.3 x 0.2 inch

$2,746

Painting, Almost Evening, Kseniya Rai

Kseniya Rai

Painting . 110 x 155 x 0.1 cm Painting . 43.3 x 61 x 0 inch

$1,698

Painting, Morning, Akim Levich

Akim Levich

Painting . 80 x 91.5 x 2 cm Painting . 31.5 x 36 x 0.8 inch

$9,954

Painting, Le Roi, Armen Gasparian

Armen Gasparian

Painting . 73 x 55 x 2 cm Painting . 28.7 x 21.7 x 0.8 inch

$3,162

Painting, Suite 305, Alione

Alione

Painting . 97 x 100 x 2 cm Painting . 38.2 x 39.4 x 0.8 inch

$5,270

Print, Museo ad hoc, Ugo Nespolo

Ugo Nespolo

Print . 75 x 170 x 0.1 cm Print . 29.5 x 66.9 x 0 inch

$1,101

Fine Art Drawings, Architecture, R.P.J.

R.P.J.

Fine Art Drawings . 64.5 x 82.5 x 0.4 cm Fine Art Drawings . 25.4 x 32.5 x 0.2 inch

$1,495

Painting, Expectation, Eugene Petrov

Eugene Petrov

Painting . 61 x 46 x 2 cm Painting . 24 x 18.1 x 0.8 inch

$1,113

Painting, Boathouses, Bente Halvorsen

Bente Halvorsen

Painting . 60 x 80 x 3 cm Painting . 23.6 x 31.5 x 1.2 inch

$1,405

Painting, St. Petersburg, Julie Panch

Julie Panch

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

$937