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!

Read more
Photography, What If II, Clint McDowell

Clint McDowell

Photography . 74.87 x 60 cm Photography . 29.5 x 23.6 inch

€1,000

Photography, Chimney, Fabien Strauss

Fabien Strauss

Photography . 40 x 30 x 0.1 cm Photography . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€379

Photography, Old dutch 5, Geert Lemmers

Geert Lemmers

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

€1,480

Photography, MACBA Barcelona, Guy Sargent

Guy Sargent

Photography . 70 x 100 x 0.2 cm Photography . 27.6 x 39.4 x 0.1 inch

€850

Photography, A Study in Silence, Guy Sargent

Guy Sargent

Photography . 58 x 40 x 0.2 cm Photography . 22.8 x 15.7 x 0.1 inch

€1,025

Photography, Torsion, Mario Tarantino

Mario Tarantino

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

€1,360

Photography, Erasmusbrug, Guy Sargent

Guy Sargent

Photography . 70 x 100 x 0.2 cm Photography . 27.6 x 39.4 x 0.1 inch

€935

Photography, Rijnkaii V, Guy Sargent

Guy Sargent

Photography . 88 x 68 x 0.2 cm Photography . 34.6 x 26.8 x 0.1 inch

€915

Photography, Rijnkaai III, Guy Sargent

Guy Sargent

Photography . 88 x 68 x 0.2 cm Photography . 34.6 x 26.8 x 0.1 inch

€915

Photography, Rijnkaai I, Guy Sargent

Guy Sargent

Photography . 88 x 68 x 0.2 cm Photography . 34.6 x 26.8 x 0.1 inch

€915

Photography, The Carousel, Guy Sargent

Guy Sargent

Photography . 100 x 70 x 0.2 cm Photography . 39.4 x 27.6 x 0.1 inch

€685

Photography, Temple, Joanna Maclennan

Joanna Maclennan

Photography . 76 x 61 x 0.5 cm Photography . 29.9 x 24 x 0.2 inch

€900

Photography, Tour Nuages, Guy Sargent

Guy Sargent

Photography . 100 x 70 x 0.2 cm Photography . 39.4 x 27.6 x 0.1 inch

€695

Photography, Florida - SMALL, Paul Fuentes

Paul Fuentes

Photography . 70 x 55 x 0.01 cm Photography . 27.6 x 21.7 x 0 inch

€600

Photography, Souvenir II, Romain Liverato

Romain Liverato

Photography . 40 x 60 x 0.5 cm Photography . 15.7 x 23.6 x 0.2 inch

€1,400

Photography, Chanel II, London, Guy Sargent

Guy Sargent

Photography . 68 x 84.5 x 0.2 cm Photography . 26.8 x 33.3 x 0.1 inch

€695

Photography, Ypsilon, Mario Tarantino

Mario Tarantino

Photography . 90 x 70 x 0.3 cm Photography . 35.4 x 27.6 x 0.1 inch

€1,000

Photography, One (S), Streety

Streety

Photography . 40 x 30 x 0.1 cm Photography . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch

€250

Photography, Marbella Castle, Ian Jones

Ian Jones

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

€850

Photography, London #31 (S), Jacob Gils

Jacob Gils

Photography . 109.2 x 71.1 cm Photography . 43 x 28 inch

€9,142

Photography, Rijnkaai VI, Guy Sargent

Guy Sargent

Photography . 88 x 68 x 0.2 cm Photography . 34.6 x 26.8 x 0.1 inch

€2,715

Photography, Contour, Mario Tarantino

Mario Tarantino

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

€843

Photography, The Secret Door, Guy Sargent

Guy Sargent

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

€395

Photography, The Soldiers 1792, Guy Sargent

Guy Sargent

Photography . 48 x 68 x 0.2 cm Photography . 18.9 x 26.8 x 0.1 inch

€395

Photography, The Yellow Room, Guy Sargent

Guy Sargent

Photography . 48 x 68 x 0.2 cm Photography . 18.9 x 26.8 x 0.1 inch

€395

Photography, Badekultur, Gina Soden

Gina Soden

Photography . 65 x 53 x 0.1 cm Photography . 25.6 x 20.9 x 0 inch

€1,460

Photography, Karaoke, Camille Levert

Camille Levert

Photography . 50 x 50 x 7 cm Photography . 19.7 x 19.7 x 2.8 inch

€5,500

Photography, Dianatempel, Bernhard Lang

Bernhard Lang

Photography . 96 x 120 x 0.1 cm Photography . 37.8 x 47.2 x 0 inch

€1,800 €1,440

Photography, Comfort zone, Emilie Mori

Emilie Mori

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

€900

Photography, Louvre II, Shengqi Tang

Shengqi Tang

Photography . 31 x 60 x 1 cm Photography . 12.2 x 23.6 x 0.4 inch

€1,100

Photography, Lisbon #1 (S), Jacob Gils

Jacob Gils

Photography . 109.2 x 71.1 cm Photography . 43 x 28 inch

€9,142

Photography, Ascension, Mario Tarantino

Mario Tarantino

Photography . 90 x 70 x 0.3 cm Photography . 35.4 x 27.6 x 0.1 inch

€1,505

Photography, West Pier - AF, Guy Sargent

Guy Sargent

Photography . 100 x 70 x 0.2 cm Photography . 39.4 x 27.6 x 0.1 inch

€735

Photography, Phoenix, Mario Tarantino

Mario Tarantino

Photography . 90 x 70 x 0.3 cm Photography . 35.4 x 27.6 x 0.1 inch

€1,446

Photography, AXF_Bridge_TK_01, Axel Fassio

Axel Fassio

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

€1,250