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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Sculpture, Transplantation 4, VAM

VAM

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

€1,200

Painting, Jungle Slumber, Mariah Birsak

Mariah Birsak

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

€1,500

Painting, Penumbra, David Walker

David Walker

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

€2,064

Print, Chair, Luis Fernández

Luis Fernández

Print . 92 x 70 cm Print . 36.2 x 27.6 inch

€400

Fine Art Drawings, Street, Kamsar Ohanyan

Kamsar Ohanyan

Fine Art Drawings . 50 x 40 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings . 19.7 x 15.7 x 0 inch

€450

Painting, Venice, Andrzej Konwerski

Andrzej Konwerski

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

€3,000

Painting, Domestic, Dyala Khodary

Dyala Khodary

Painting . 45 x 55 x 0.5 cm Painting . 17.7 x 21.7 x 0.2 inch

€1,000

Print, Le Parfum du Sud, Hugo Pondz

Hugo Pondz

Print . 120 x 120 x 0.1 cm Print . 47.2 x 47.2 x 0 inch

€1,650

Print, Untitled I, Jeremie Faivre

Jeremie Faivre

Print . 38 x 50 x 2 cm Print . 15 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch

€1,000

Painting, Shed n2, Yevgeniya Kramska

Yevgeniya Kramska

Painting . 80 x 100 x 2 cm Painting . 31.5 x 39.4 x 0.8 inch

€824

Painting, Untitled, Lluís Barba

Lluís Barba

Painting . 55.5 x 75 x 0.2 cm Painting . 21.9 x 29.5 x 0.1 inch

€1,300

Painting, Paysage animé, Sartorelli

Sartorelli

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

€1,354

Painting, Rome, Antonio Reyna Manescau

Antonio Reyna Manescau

Painting . 20.5 x 15 x 0.5 cm Painting . 8.1 x 5.9 x 0.2 inch

€1,574

Print, Lille, Michele Morando

Michele Morando

Print . 54 x 41 x 0.1 cm Print . 21.3 x 16.1 x 0 inch

€390

Painting, Stuck, Koorosh Nejad

Koorosh Nejad

Painting . 140 x 105.9 x 4.1 cm Painting . 55.1 x 41.7 x 1.6 inch

€1,619

Painting, Bound for Spring, Liu Ziyu

Liu Ziyu

Painting . 68 x 71 x 0.1 cm Painting . 26.8 x 28 x 0 inch

€1,900

Painting, L'attente, Daniel Sciora

Daniel Sciora

Painting . 73 x 70.5 x 3 cm Painting . 28.7 x 27.8 x 1.2 inch

€700

Photography, Barbican, Francoblanco

Francoblanco

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

€400 €320

Print, Jourdain, Vermibus

Vermibus

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

€200

Painting, Zénith, Appaloosa

Appaloosa

Painting . 46 x 55 x 2 cm Painting . 18.1 x 21.7 x 0.8 inch

€860

Painting, House (3), Jarik Jongman

Jarik Jongman

Painting . 59.9 x 80 x 4.1 cm Painting . 23.6 x 31.5 x 1.6 inch

€4,625

Sculpture, Penta Goda, Jean Brillant

Jean Brillant

Sculpture . 300 x 113 x 120 cm Sculpture . 118.1 x 44.5 x 47.2 inch

€28,000

Painting, New Orleans, Yann Letestu

Yann Letestu

Painting . 73 x 54 x 2 cm Painting . 28.7 x 21.3 x 0.8 inch

€2,000

Painting, After, Ola Suprun

Ola Suprun

Painting . 110 x 130 x 0.1 cm Painting . 43.3 x 51.2 x 0 inch

€2,500

Painting, Locarno, Jules Gaillepand

Jules Gaillepand

Painting . 33.5 x 44 x 0.5 cm Painting . 13.2 x 17.3 x 0.2 inch

€1,211

Photography, Colour Pop, Cindi Emond

Cindi Emond

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

€1,200