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, Dans les buildings, Aqua S

Aqua S

Painting . 75 x 59 x 0.1 cm Painting . 29.5 x 23.2 x 0 inch

€320

Sculpture, Cabane, Sylvain Corentin

Sylvain Corentin

Sculpture . 71 x 29 x 16 cm Sculpture . 28 x 11.4 x 6.3 inch

€800

Painting, Untitled, Ani Qananyan

Ani Qananyan

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

€1,300 €1,170

Print, Water Street, Lucio Forte

Lucio Forte

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

€150

Print, Untitled, Arnau Alemany

Arnau Alemany

Print . 52 x 38 x 0.1 cm Print . 20.5 x 15 x 0 inch

€500

Print, Les hauts murs, Moi.

Moi.

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

€300

Painting, Interior, Franceska Kirke

Franceska Kirke

Painting . 86 x 112 x 3 cm Painting . 33.9 x 44.1 x 1.2 inch

€2,800

Painting, Venice, Lusie Schellenberg

Lusie Schellenberg

Painting . 35 x 45 x 1 cm Painting . 13.8 x 17.7 x 0.4 inch

€900

Painting, Utopia Ermetica, Marco Faggi

Marco Faggi

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

€1,800

Print, Top, Bernard Quentin

Top

Bernard Quentin

Print . 71 x 110 cm Print . 28 x 43.3 inch

€1,800

Painting, Rayon Vert 13, Robin Obitz

Robin Obitz

Painting . 97 x 130 x 3 cm Painting . 38.2 x 51.2 x 1.2 inch

€7,000

Painting, Urban Shape, Paul Bertier

Paul Bertier

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

€3,800

Sculpture, Springboks, Clare McCracken

Clare McCracken

Sculpture . 24 x 31 x 13 cm Sculpture . 9.4 x 12.2 x 5.1 inch

€903

Painting, City view, Wojciech Sadley

Wojciech Sadley

Painting . 53 x 72 cm Painting . 20.9 x 28.3 inch

€1,700

Painting, Storm in Reno, Nathan Rhoads

Nathan Rhoads

Painting . 61 x 45.7 x 3.8 cm Painting . 24 x 18 x 1.5 inch

€3,829

Photography, Tripe 09, Thomas Ruff

Thomas Ruff

Photography . 40 x 50 cm Photography . 15.7 x 19.7 inch

€2,250

Fine Art Drawings, Crossing TV, Pauline Di Valentin

Pauline Di Valentin

Fine Art Drawings . 60 x 40 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 23.6 x 15.7 x 0 inch

€400

Photography, NYC Oculus II, Jochen Cerny

Jochen Cerny

Photography . 200 x 118 x 3 cm Photography . 78.7 x 46.5 x 1.2 inch

€4,800

Photography, Miami Circles 01, Luca Artioli

Luca Artioli

Photography . 68.6 x 101.6 x 0.3 cm Photography . 27 x 40 x 0.1 inch

€2,748

Print, Magritte, Patrick Hughes

Patrick Hughes

Print . 42 x 100 x 15 cm Print . 16.5 x 39.4 x 5.9 inch

€12,000

Painting, Paysage rural, Harry Urban

Harry Urban

Painting . 54 x 65 x 2 cm Painting . 21.3 x 25.6 x 0.8 inch

€991

Sculpture, Large pool, Ramon Enrich

Ramon Enrich

Sculpture . 11 x 49 x 15 cm Sculpture . 4.3 x 19.3 x 5.9 inch

€4,200