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, Mystitown Öl, Lubov Jelev

Lubov Jelev

Painting . 60 x 120 x 4 cm Painting . 23.6 x 47.2 x 1.6 inch

€4,900

Painting, Amazing palace, Mani Mustafa

Mani Mustafa

Painting . 50 x 70 x 0.1 cm Painting . 19.7 x 27.6 x 0 inch

€1,800

Painting, La serre, Camille Hilaire

Camille Hilaire

Painting . 60 x 73 x 2.5 cm Painting . 23.6 x 28.7 x 1 inch

€7,000

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, First Lunch, Seromo Okoro

Seromo Okoro

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

€2,229

Painting, Magnolia, Ivan Tverdun

Ivan Tverdun

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

€3,000

Painting, Bordeaux, Gela Keidia

Gela Keidia

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

€2,600

Painting, NYC, Daniel Castan

NYC

Daniel Castan

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

€3,500

Painting, Red roofs 22, Poovi Art

Poovi Art

Painting . 121.9 x 76.2 x 5.1 cm Painting . 48 x 30 x 2 inch

€793

Painting, Urban Symphony, Mykola Bodnar

Mykola Bodnar

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

€1,300

Painting, Venice, Elena Chulkova

Elena Chulkova

Painting . 60 x 50 x 1.8 cm Painting . 23.6 x 19.7 x 0.7 inch

€2,000

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

€2,229

Painting, Red Roofs, Alexander Shandor

Alexander Shandor

Painting . 47 x 66 x 3 cm Painting . 18.5 x 26 x 1.2 inch

€1,248

Painting, Bus Stop, Catherine Clare

Catherine Clare

Painting . 50 x 65 x 0.1 cm Painting . 19.7 x 25.6 x 0 inch

€1,250

Painting, Moonlight, Matteo Nannini

Matteo Nannini

Painting . 80 x 120 x 3 cm Painting . 31.5 x 47.2 x 1.2 inch

€4,400

Painting, Chez Louise, Carlo Maiolini

Carlo Maiolini

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

€1,650

Painting, Blue Town, David Hinchliffe

David Hinchliffe

Painting . 50 x 40 x 4 cm Painting . 19.7 x 15.7 x 1.6 inch

€486

Painting, Courtyard, Ihar Sviancicki

Ihar Sviancicki

Painting . 80 x 60 x 2.2 cm Painting . 31.5 x 23.6 x 0.9 inch

€3,200

Painting, Paysage Lot, Michel Jamet

Michel Jamet

Painting . 55 x 65 x 2 cm Painting . 21.7 x 25.6 x 0.8 inch

€875