We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jerell Gantt a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Jerell thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Do you wish you had waited to pursue your creative career or do you wish you had started sooner?

I’ve been a full time artist and entrepreneur for about 6 years now. Before I didn’t have the courage to take the leap of faith necessary to follow by dreams. I wish I would’ve had the audacity to bet on myself before I finally did. But God’s timing is divine.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I am Jerell Gantt. I’m an artist who specializes in preserving and highlighting the black experience. My art honors the heritage of my ancestors, pride of our current movement and the hope for the future. I create works of art on canvas, furniture, and materials unlimited. I am most proud that my work reflects my culture. My biggest joy comes from those enjoying my designs and seeing their reflections in them.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

I started creating around the rise of social media. As the platform evolved, my work did as well. When I started dedicating artwork to celebrities and notable African Americans that have inspired me, my audience grew significantly. Many of my followers share the same sentiments of respect and adoration for Malcolm X, Erykah Badu and Whoopi Goldberg as I do. I’ve been fortunate that some celebrities have seen my work and expressed the same sentiments in return.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

My journey through cultivating my craft certainly hasn’t been an easy one. There were several doors closed, and multiple NO’s said to me. I’ve sold my work everywhere from party’s to parking lots. But I believed in my art and myself. That belief gave me strength to move on from dark times and flourish into a space where my creativity is revered and respected.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.etsy.com/shop/imitationbyjerell
• Instagram: @imitationbyjerell
• Other: TikTok/@imitationbyjerell

Image Credits
All images taken by me.