When he was young, he lost his father to alcohol, cirrhosis, and according to Gant, "It was poverty beating him into submission.
[2] Influenced by African-American artists such as filmmaker Spike Lee, in the early 1990s, Gant started performing spoken word in New York City and Newark.
[2] Gant creates artistic works textile and clothing design, metal sculpture, woodcarving, and wall murals.
[5] Gant sought to reflect the spirit and community of Newark, while challenging stereotypes and conventional thinking.
[6] If Newark were to look for an artist that most represents it, it would be Jerry Gant ... No artist in this city has had a more visible presence or impact on the people of Newark.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.