His interest and passion for art began at an early age, but because he grew up in a small town, he had no way to visit museums.
College was an extremely important time for Gaither, because it allowed him access to the artwork he had such a passion for, a population where he fit in, and an atmosphere to find himself.
The Center has become a vitally important showcase of African-American artists and culture for Boston and the United States.
A love for education led Gaither to develop a course on African-American art at which he served as a lecturer at various colleges across the nation.
Outside the museum world, he served on President George W. Bush’s Advisory Board on Historically Black Colleges and Universities.