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, Desde fuera, Laura Nieto

Laura Nieto

Painting . 81 x 65 x 2 cm Painting . 31.9 x 25.6 x 0.8 inch

€4,600

Painting, Cozy patio, Galina Kulaga

Galina Kulaga

Painting . 50 x 70 x 1.5 cm Painting . 19.7 x 27.6 x 0.6 inch

€313

Painting, Ruins, Mark Kostabi

Mark Kostabi

Painting . 157.5 x 172.7 cm Painting . 62 x 68 inch

€15,189

Painting, Landscape, Emilio Tejada

Emilio Tejada

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

€1,200

Painting, Shed n2, Yevgeniya Kramska

Yevgeniya Kramska

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

€804

Sculpture, Ohne Titel, Gerd Kanz

Gerd Kanz

Sculpture . 29 x 25 x 4 cm Sculpture . 11.4 x 9.8 x 1.6 inch

€1,100

Painting, Sky line, Eva Prieto

Eva Prieto

Painting . 73 x 60 x 3 cm Painting . 28.7 x 23.6 x 1.2 inch

€1,700

Painting, Birdie, Valery Tatar

Valery Tatar

Painting . 155 x 135 x 2 cm Painting . 61 x 53.1 x 0.8 inch

€3,154

Painting, Le pont, Trichet Jacques

Trichet Jacques

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

€950

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, Pont Neuf, Paris, Armand

Armand

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

€1,327

Painting, Sydney Opera, Vianney

Vianney

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

€2,900

Painting, Scène urbaine, Harry Urban

Harry Urban

Painting . 32 x 41.5 x 0.5 cm Painting . 12.6 x 16.3 x 0.2 inch

€972

Painting, Venise, Josselin Bodley

Josselin Bodley

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

€1,156

Painting, Aix Cafe, Brian Elwell

Brian Elwell

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

€962

Painting, Expectation, Eugene Petrov

Eugene Petrov

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

€950

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, 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

€2,437

Painting, Venise, Roberto Gherardi

Roberto Gherardi

Painting . 41 x 56 x 1 cm Painting . 16.1 x 22 x 0.4 inch

€1,098

Painting, In August, Gayle Fitzpatrick

Gayle Fitzpatrick

Painting . 55.9 x 55.9 x 2.5 cm Painting . 22 x 22 x 1 inch

€867

Fine Art Drawings, Lorgues, Francine Ledieu

Francine Ledieu

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

€3,800

Painting, Lookout, Nanci Erskine

Nanci Erskine

Painting . 106.7 x 71.1 x 3.8 cm Painting . 42 x 28 x 1.5 inch

€1,519

Painting, Australian village, Pro Hart

Pro Hart

Painting . 66 x 71 x 0.5 cm Painting . 26 x 28 x 0.2 inch

€8,900

Painting, Manarola, Clara Duch

Clara Duch

Painting . 60 x 80 x 2.5 cm Painting . 23.6 x 31.5 x 1 inch

€2,000

Painting, New York, Mario Garcia Miro

Mario Garcia Miro

Painting . 91 x 126 x 3 cm Painting . 35.8 x 49.6 x 1.2 inch

€6,492

Painting, Amstel Amsterdam, Anna Pavlova

Anna Pavlova

Painting . 39.4 x 100.3 x 2.5 cm Painting . 15.5 x 39.5 x 1 inch

€1,179

Painting, Beach house, Laura Newman

Laura Newman

Painting . 183 x 142 cm Painting . 72 x 55.9 inch

€14,607

Painting, Venise, Marc Peltzer

Marc Peltzer

Painting . 90 x 30 x 2 cm Painting . 35.4 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

€9,000 €8,100