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, Blue, Helen Uter

Helen Uter

Painting - 116 x 89 x 2.5 cm Painting - 45.7 x 35 x 1 inch

$4,231

Painting, Gate, Paulino Ustarroz

Paulino Ustarroz

Painting - 46 x 55 x 3 cm Painting - 18.1 x 21.7 x 1.2 inch

$725

Painting, Untitled, Mauro Bellucci

Mauro Bellucci

Painting - 50 x 50 x 0.1 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0 inch

$1,209

Painting, Parallel II, Albena Petkova

Albena Petkova

Painting - 100 x 135 x 3 cm Painting - 39.4 x 53.1 x 1.2 inch

$1,674

Photography, Venice #1, William Stewart

William Stewart

Photography - 60 x 40 x 0.1 cm Photography - 23.6 x 15.7 x 0 inch

$416

Photography, NL #34, Charles Weber

Charles Weber

Photography - 70 x 70 cm Photography - 27.6 x 27.6 inch

$3,143

Painting, Rome, Antonio Reyna Manescau

Antonio Reyna Manescau

Painting - 20.5 x 15 x 0.5 cm Painting - 8.1 x 5.9 x 0.2 inch

$1,859

Photography, Royal Red, Moritz Hormel

Moritz Hormel

Photography - 70 x 100 x 3 cm Photography - 27.6 x 39.4 x 1.2 inch

$1,692

Fine Art Drawings, Honfleur, Jean Le Gac

Jean Le Gac

Fine Art Drawings - 29.5 x 38 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.6 x 15 inch

$1,269

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

$2,769

Fine Art Drawings, View, Nicolas Damianakis

Nicolas Damianakis

Fine Art Drawings - 24 x 31.5 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 9.4 x 12.4 x 0 inch

$363

Painting, Enter Pagoda, Le Nhu Ha

Le Nhu Ha

Painting - 119.4 x 139.7 x 5.1 cm Painting - 47 x 55 x 2 inch

$9,000

Painting, Les Remparts, Raoul Dufy

Raoul Dufy

Painting - 50 x 65 x 1 cm Painting - 19.7 x 25.6 x 0.4 inch

$42,914

Photography, Fushimi inari, Mirei

Mirei

Photography - 20 x 27 cm Photography - 7.9 x 10.6 inch

$423

Painting, Time to relax, Lilly Muth

Lilly Muth

Painting - 100 x 120 x 3 cm Painting - 39.4 x 47.2 x 1.2 inch

$2,297

Painting, Pink arch, Procach Olesia

Procach Olesia

Painting - 45 x 45 x 2 cm Painting - 17.7 x 17.7 x 0.8 inch

$743

Painting, Sud, Marie Deforche

Sud

Marie Deforche

Painting - 73 x 91 x 4 cm Painting - 28.7 x 35.8 x 1.6 inch

$1,934

Painting, Operenccia, Victor Vasarely

Victor Vasarely

Painting - 101.6 x 167.6 x 2.5 cm Painting - 40 x 66 x 1 inch

$450,000

Print, Agora, Marc Prat

Marc Prat

Print - 62 x 96 cm Print - 24.4 x 37.8 inch

$665

Painting, Décantation, Monkeybird

Monkeybird

Painting - 77.5 x 36.7 x 1.5 cm Painting - 30.5 x 14.4 x 0.6 inch

$3,143

Painting, Sunny Moments, Vianney

Vianney

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

$3,627

Photography, Pink Lady, Marcus Cederberg

Marcus Cederberg

Photography - 70 x 50 x 0.1 cm Photography - 27.6 x 19.7 x 0 inch

$242

Painting, Marble Arch, Marco Araldi

Marco Araldi

Painting - 36 x 36 x 3 cm Painting - 14.2 x 14.2 x 1.2 inch

$805

Fine Art Drawings, Python, Pauline Di Valentin

Pauline Di Valentin

Fine Art Drawings - 70 x 50 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 27.6 x 19.7 x 0 inch

$846

Print, Red lion, Philippe Matine

Philippe Matine

Print - 70 x 140 x 4.5 cm Print - 27.6 x 55.1 x 1.8 inch

$531

Print, Free Rothko, Oak Oak

Oak Oak

Print - 50 x 40 x 0.1 cm Print - 19.7 x 15.7 x 0 inch

$230

Painting, Urban Mosaic, Aram Sevoyan

Aram Sevoyan

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

$2,000

Painting, Cohabitation, Kurar

Kurar

Painting - 120 x 120 x 1 cm Painting - 47.2 x 47.2 x 0.4 inch

$10,275

Painting, Morning chime, Dmitry Artim

Dmitry Artim

Painting - 70 x 60 x 2 cm Painting - 27.6 x 23.6 x 0.8 inch

$665

Painting, Incoming Call, Wang Dianyu

Wang Dianyu

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

$1,813

Painting, Zénith, Appaloosa

Appaloosa

Painting - 46 x 55 x 2 cm Painting - 18.1 x 21.7 x 0.8 inch

$1,040

Painting, Les 3 Palmiers, LOg

LOg

Painting - 30 x 60 x 2 cm Painting - 11.8 x 23.6 x 0.8 inch

$604

Fine Art Drawings, Pyramid, Osse Müller

Osse Müller

Fine Art Drawings - 60 x 44 cm Fine Art Drawings - 23.6 x 17.3 inch

$2,176

Painting, Brant Point, David Sipko

David Sipko

Painting - 27.9 x 35.6 x 2 cm Painting - 11 x 14 x 0.8 inch

$850

Sculpture, Giants, High jump in Rio, JR

JR

Sculpture - 99 x 55 x 20 cm Sculpture - 39 x 21.7 x 7.9 inch

$12,088

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