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, Vince II, Matthew Green

Matthew Green

Painting . 55.9 x 76.2 x 5.1 cm Painting . 22 x 30 x 2 inch

€849

Painting, First Lunch, Seromo Okoro

Seromo Okoro

Painting . 91.4 x 121.9 x 3.8 cm Painting . 36 x 48 x 1.5 inch

€2,235

Painting, North Island, Clara Duch

Clara Duch

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

€2,000

Painting, Lounging Daze, Alec Cumming

Alec Cumming

Painting . 81 x 96 x 1 cm Painting . 31.9 x 37.8 x 0.4 inch

€3,175

Painting, Christ-Elle, Pierre Riollet

Pierre Riollet

Painting . 100 x 100 x 4 cm Painting . 39.4 x 39.4 x 1.6 inch

€3,800

Painting, Pagoda, Le Nhu Ha

Le Nhu Ha

Painting . 127 x 147.3 x 5.1 cm Painting . 50 x 58 x 2 inch

€6,973

Sculpture, Untitled, Gerd Kanz

Gerd Kanz

Sculpture . 48 x 37 x 8 cm Sculpture . 18.9 x 14.6 x 3.1 inch

€2,600

Painting, Embruns, Raymond Poulet

Raymond Poulet

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

€4,600

Painting, Morning, Akim Levich

Akim Levich

Painting . 80 x 91.5 x 2 cm Painting . 31.5 x 36 x 0.8 inch

€8,500

Painting, Honfleur, Josep Cruañas

Josep Cruañas

Painting . 40 x 60 x 3 cm Painting . 15.7 x 23.6 x 1.2 inch

€1,600

Painting, Home Town, Luong Trung

Luong Trung

Painting . 50 x 77 x 1 cm Painting . 19.7 x 30.3 x 0.4 inch

€2,750

Painting, Portxo I, Albert Alís

Albert Alís

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

€1,900

Painting, New-York 2, HM

HM

Painting . 93 x 60 cm Painting . 36.6 x 23.6 inch

€2,500

Painting, Pick me up, Nina Fedotova

Nina Fedotova

Painting . 50 x 40 x 2 cm Painting . 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch

€400

Painting, You See It Too, Seromo Okoro

Seromo Okoro

Painting . 91.4 x 121.9 x 3.8 cm Painting . 36 x 48 x 1.5 inch

€2,235

Painting, Venise, Samuel Azuelos

Samuel Azuelos

Painting . 60 x 76 x 2 cm Painting . 23.6 x 29.9 x 0.8 inch

€6,500

Painting, Village 28, Daozhou Huang

Daozhou Huang

Painting . 30 x 40 x 2 cm Painting . 11.8 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch

€500

Painting, Shed n5, Yevgeniya Kramska

Yevgeniya Kramska

Painting . 100 x 72 x 2 cm Painting . 39.4 x 28.3 x 0.8 inch

€805

Painting, Sunny Beach, Peter Mac Floy

Peter Mac Floy

Painting . 82 x 82 x 4 cm Painting . 32.3 x 32.3 x 1.6 inch

€3,500

Painting, Marseille, Valérie Dinelli

Valérie Dinelli

Painting . 100 x 100 x 10 cm Painting . 39.4 x 39.4 x 3.9 inch

€5,500

Painting, Blue Thames, Brian Elwell

Brian Elwell

Painting . 30 x 91 x 1 cm Painting . 11.8 x 35.8 x 0.4 inch

€2,165

Painting, Sunny Moments, Vianney

Vianney

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

€3,250

Painting, White, Sophie Dumont

Sophie Dumont

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

€2,900