Jerry Gant

Jerry Gant (November 21, 1961 – November 11, 2018) was an American visual artist, poet, performance artist and educator.

Early life and education

Gant was born in Newark, New Jersey. He grew up moving around Newark with his mother. When he was young, he lost his father to alcohol, cirrhosis, and according to Gant, "It was poverty beating him into submission. He didn't die; he was killed." He worked on art projects inside and often outside the "white-cube" in an effort to expand the role art can play in urban spaces.

Art critic Benjamin Genocchio of The New York Times described Gant's sculptures that use found wood, metal and wire in his series of "ghetto blasters" as referencing "urbanity and the raw, explosive energy of music."

Gant's murals can be seen in New York City, Boston, London, and Newark. 2007 - My Brother's Thread, Cork Gallery, NY 2006 - ... but I was cool, Aljira, a Center for Contemporary Art, Newark, NJ 2005 - William Turner Sculpture Garden, Maplewood, NJ 2005 - Top Dog Underdog, Luna Stage Artist Space, Montclair, NJ

Honors 2006 - Artist in Residence Program, Gallery Aferro 2006 - Artstart Grant, Newark Arts Council 2005 - Creative Heartwork Residency Awardship 2010- Newark Museum Film Festival, Paul Robeson Award, Honorable mention Short Documentary; "BulletProof Ambition"