Gerald Jackson describes life as a black painter in the Bowery, poetry versus hip hop, and the jazz scene of the 1980s.

I am very pleased to present this short introduction into the world of Gerald Jackson. I think you will find him a very rare and extremely creative human being. I have known Gerald now for over 30 years and continue to find our conversations inspiring, funny and poignant. As an artist, his work goes from video to painting and sculpture to fashion to music and to performance.

This excerpt is part of an oral history with Jackson conducted for BOMB’s Oral History Project, extended histories with important NYC African-American artists slated for its premiere in 2014 and supported by New York Community Trust, and AG and Dedalus Foundations.

Gerald Jackson is currently exhibiting at Gallery OneTwentyEight. For more information, visit the gallery’s website.

Stanley Whitney is a painter living in New York.