ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Robert Janitz's 'Stick Shift Heaven' at Team Gallery Showcases Diverse Artistic Output

exhibition · 2026-04-22

From February 23 to March 23, 2014, Team Gallery hosted Robert Janitz's solo exhibition titled 'Stick Shift Heaven,' which showcased 13 new pieces divided into three series. These included gestural abstractions created with cold wax and flour, expressive portraits featuring the backs of heads, and plant sculptures made from sheet metal and Coroplast. Janitz, born in Germany in 1962, relocated to New York in 2009 after spending years in Paris, in pursuit of artistic and emotional liberation. His previous exhibition at CLEARING Gallery in 2011, 'To Fallow,' highlighted his layered paintings. The current works incorporate innovative materials, while the sculptures, named 'The Margiela Plants,' draw inspiration from fountain shapes and literary references from figures like Raymond Roussel and Apollinaire.

Key facts

  • Robert Janitz's solo exhibition 'Stick Shift Heaven' ran from February 23 to March 23, 2014 at Team Gallery
  • The show included 13 new works across three series: abstractions with cold wax and flour, portraits of backs of heads, and plant sculptures
  • Janitz was born in Germany in 1962 and moved to New York in 2009 after living in Paris
  • He cited a dislike for the French art scene's hostility to painting and a preference for New York's emotional connection
  • A previous exhibition, 'To Fallow,' was held at CLEARING Gallery in 2011
  • Janitz uses materials like flour and wax in his paintings, which solidify slowly for an archaeological effect
  • His portraits are inspired by fleeting moments, such as seeing backs of heads on the J train
  • Sculptures are called 'The Margiela Plants,' referencing fashion designer Martin Margiela and made from sheet metal and Coroplast

Entities

Artists

  • Robert Janitz
  • Noah Dillon
  • Martin Margiela
  • Raymond Roussel
  • Apollinaire

Institutions

  • Team Gallery
  • CLEARING Gallery
  • Shoot the Lobster
  • Cooper Union
  • artcritical

Locations

  • New York
  • United States
  • Paris
  • France
  • Germany
  • Brussels
  • Belgium
  • Bushwick

Sources