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, Misty House, Lana Devidze

Lana Devidze

Painting . 59.5 x 49.5 x 1.6 cm Painting . 23.4 x 19.5 x 0.6 inch

€1,000

Painting, Baalbek, Alain Bordier

Alain Bordier

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

€4,000

Painting, Motion 2.2, Eduard Churkin

Eduard Churkin

Painting . 90 x 139 x 4 cm Painting . 35.4 x 54.7 x 1.6 inch

€10,400

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

Painting, Shed n3, Yevgeniya Kramska

Yevgeniya Kramska

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

€807

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, Museum, Slav Nedev

Slav Nedev

Painting . 59.9 x 136.9 x 2 cm Painting . 23.6 x 53.9 x 0.8 inch

€4,934

Painting, Always alive, Galia Chuntova

Galia Chuntova

Painting . 40 x 60 x 2 cm Painting . 15.7 x 23.6 x 0.8 inch

€1,450

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

€3,749

Painting, Destino, Olga Afanasiadi

Olga Afanasiadi

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

€1,400

Painting, Venice, Andrzej Konwerski

Andrzej Konwerski

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

€3,000

Painting, Paysage animé, Sartorelli

Sartorelli

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

€1,398

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

€4,530

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

€1,250