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, Window, Wang Dianyu

Wang Dianyu

Painting . 70 x 50 x 3 cm Painting . 27.6 x 19.7 x 1.2 inch

€1,300

Painting, Stairways, Noe Borst

Noe Borst

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

€600

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, Sydney Opera, Vianney

Vianney

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

€2,900

Painting, Swallow, Carlos Diaz

Carlos Diaz

Painting . 60 x 59 x 4 cm Painting . 23.6 x 23.2 x 1.6 inch

€2,900

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, Marawa, Yoann Merienne

Yoann Merienne

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

€3,200

Painting, Door 2, Nataliya Lemesheva

Nataliya Lemesheva

Painting . 116 x 88 x 2 cm Painting . 45.7 x 34.6 x 0.8 inch

€3,950

Painting, Meeting, Asher Topel

Asher Topel

Painting . 61 x 79.2 x 7.1 cm Painting . 24 x 31.2 x 2.8 inch

€1,337

Painting, Portxo I, Albert Alís

Albert Alís

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

€1,900

Painting, Vianney, Vianney

Vianney

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

€2,900

Painting, Sixth Floor, Keti Shapatava

Keti Shapatava

Painting . 80 x 60 x 2.3 cm Painting . 31.5 x 23.6 x 0.9 inch

€2,000

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

€312

Painting, Door 14, Nataliya Lemesheva

Nataliya Lemesheva

Painting . 116 x 89 x 2 cm Painting . 45.7 x 35 x 0.8 inch

€3,950

Painting, Tulips, Evgeny Chernyakovsky

Evgeny Chernyakovsky

Painting . 80 x 70 x 2 cm Painting . 31.5 x 27.6 x 0.8 inch

€1,337

Painting, City, Anna Krtshatsyan

Anna Krtshatsyan

Painting . 125 x 145 cm Painting . 49.2 x 57.1 inch

€1,700

Painting, Abandoned House, Wang Dianyu

Wang Dianyu

Painting . 70 x 50 x 3 cm Painting . 27.6 x 19.7 x 1.2 inch

€2,250

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, Door 13, Nataliya Lemesheva

Nataliya Lemesheva

Painting . 116 x 89 x 2 cm Painting . 45.7 x 35 x 0.8 inch

€3,950

Painting, Train, Tsisia Kiladze

Tsisia Kiladze

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

€800

Painting, New-York 2, HM

HM

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

€2,500

Painting, South Bank, Selwyn Midgen

Selwyn Midgen

Painting . 51 x 60 x 4 cm Painting . 20.1 x 23.6 x 1.6 inch

€5,500

Painting, Dialogues, Stanislav Lazarov

Stanislav Lazarov

Painting . 100 x 50 x 2 cm Painting . 39.4 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch

€1,200

Painting, In 10 minutes, Galya Popova

Galya Popova

Painting . 60 x 50 x 2 cm Painting . 23.6 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch

€1,760