This Week In The Arts - War in Iran, Travis Scott the Polymath, and Catch-22
Weekly Edition - Art and Culture Newsletter - Thursday, March 5, 2026
Good morning everyone, before we get into this week's topics. We want to acknowledge the tragic shooting that took place on West Sixth Street in Austin on March 1. The attack left three people dead and more than a dozen injured, sending shockwaves through a city known for its music, arts, and nightlife. As a publication based in Austin, our thoughts are with the victims, their families, and everyone in our community affected by the violence. We remain committed to supporting the artists, venues, and cultural spaces that make this city what it is. If you or a loved one is struggling please reach out to the city of Austin here.
Art News This Week
Gulf art institutions shutter as Iran retaliates for US-Israeli strikes
A number of museums, galleries, and university campuses in the UAE and Qatar have suspended in-person operations following Iranian missile attacks that began over the weekend
U.S. and Israeli strikes damage a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Tehran, Iran
A UNESCO World Heritage Site in Tehran, Iran, sustained major damages by U.S. and Israeli strikes. On March 2, the 400-year-old Golestan Palace was partly destroyed by debris and shock waves from an airstrike on Tehran’s Arag Square.
A glimpse of Iran, through the eyes of its artists and journalists
So many of us have little direct experience with the culture of Iran. In the wake of the recent attacks, it feels especially important to see the country through the eyes of its artists and journalists. NPR has put together a list of resources for those who are interested.
Get a first look at Frieze Los Angeles 2026
For those unfamiliar with the Los Angeles art fair, Frieze has put together a short video to view some of this year's highlights.
Art thief stole 300 pieces from British Museum before he was caught
The former staff member used razors to scrape off labels on prints to avoid identification, before he was stopped as he left the museum with 35 works of art
The Art Newsletter is an Independent Publication
We are a reader-supported publication. If you value thoughtful writing on art, music, literature, and culture, consider supporting our work.
Becoming a paid member gives you full access to our complete library of essays, long-form writing, and arts journalism. More importantly, your support helps sustain an independent, minority-owned publication dedicated to serious cultural writing.
Membership is the best way to experience The Art Newsletter while directly supporting the work we do.
We are currently offering a student discount — 50% off our top subscription for four years.
Students can click here to access our 50% discount. Or use code "student" at check out.
Travis Scott and the Disdain for the Multidisciplinary
by Wolfgang Burst
Last month, the rapper and producer Travis Scott did an interview with Rolling Stone in which he stated that he would “like to study architecture and engineering” due to a love of “spaces and experiences.” He then went on to note how cars, fashion, movies, and touring all inspire him in life and his creative work. He continued to say how it's cool to be able to "do renderings" but to actually have the knowledge to build something physical is a more refined and unique skill. I found this to be charming, and in his statements I sensed a possible affection for the late Virgil Abloh. Surprisingly, the comments on this video seem to lean more towards the negative, with the general attitude being skeptical on whether or not Travis could, or should actually go through the process to study Architecture. That skepticism is what I believe is wrong with our society today.
This is an excerpt “Travis Scott and the Disdain for the Multidisciplinary” by our CEO and independent writer Wolfgang Burst.
Catch-2026
by Jesog Lee
A World War II bombardier named Yossarian is desperate to stop flying combat missions and he knows the military has a rule: a pilot can be grounded if they're declared insane. The problem is that the act of wanting to be grounded proves you're sane, because only a rational person would want to avoid dying. Therefore, if you ask to stop flying on the grounds you are insane, you are immediately deemed sane and must continue flying. This is the premise of Joseph Heller's hilarious yet insightful novel Catch-22. His rule’s absurdity and simultaneous relatability has earned the books’ name a spot in the dictionary; a catch-22 now refers to any circumstance that is inescapable because of conflicting and dependent conditions. What makes this more than a clever bit of dark comedy, though, is how recognizable it feels. It is the ideology of every system that protects itself through contradiction, where the rules are structured so that playing by them and challenging them have the same result. And when every exit is closed, the only move left is to say so. The moment you do this, though, you mark yourself as difficult - insane. Heller's world points out that in such a broken system, sanity is not rewarded.
This is an excerpt “Catch-2026” by our CFO and independent writer Jesog Lee.
Thank you all for reading. If you enjoyed this newsletter, please share your feedback in the comment section. We always enjoy hearing from our readers, and your ideas help us continue improving the publication. We are also always open to reader-suggested topics.
If you value independent writing on art, music, literature, and culture, consider becoming a supporter of The Art Newsletter. Paid members receive full access to our archive of essays and help sustain this independent publication.
See you next week,
Wolfgang & Jesog
Co-Founders, The Art Newsletter
