ABOUT JENS AKA J BLACK INK

Jens Gander was born in St. Gallen, Switzerland, in 1982. His primary passion has always been drawing and creating art using various techniques.

He began with graffiti in 1996 and attended the arts & crafts school „Schnitzschule Elbigenalp“ from 1998 to 2002. Over the next decade, he experimented with airbrush, acrylic and oil painting, as well as other decorative art techniques. He also worked for several years as a sign writer.

In 2012, he began tattooing. Transitioning from the short-lived art form of graffiti to the long-lasting art of tattoos was a game-changer in his life, as he describes it. Tattooing allowed him to blend all his different styles, from lettering to characters and beyond.

Since 2021, Jens Gander has been a co-owner of Pepe Tattoo in Wattens.

Artistic resumé

Exhibition, Live Painting & Jams

2025

Street Art Festival Frauenfeld | Frauenfeld, Switzerland

„up in ma hood“ Battle at Bogenfest | Innsbruck, Austria

Werbe Wand Tirol Milch, Südring | Innsbruck, Austria

2024

Graffiti Jam „up in ma hood battle“, Bogenfest | Innsbruck, Austria

Graffiti Jam „Villack“ | Villach, Austria

Wandgestaltung / live graffiti Spielplatz Kindergarten | Wattens, Austria

Graffiti workshop Volkschule 2 | Wattens, Austria

2023

Live Graffiti „calcada de gloria hall of fame“ | Lisbon, Portugal

Gestaltung Pema Unterführung „gundam robots“ | Innsbruck, Austria

„the race track“ MOS Motorsport Wand | Volders, Austria

30 Jahre Wartegg Jubiläum, Popup Tattoo Studio | Basel, Switzerland

crazy mister sketch birthday jam, live graffiti | Innsbruck, Austria

Graffiti workshop Volksschule am Kirchplatz | Wattens, Austria

2022

live painting for „bike hunters switzerland“ | Goldach, Switzerland

Graffiti Jam „Klassentreffen“ | Neustift i. Stubaital, Austria

Galerie Dialog „eastcoast-westcoast-Mischkost“ | Kufstein, Austria

2021

live painting & workshop „Strassenfest“ | Kundl, Austria

2020

live painting skatepark | Zams, Austria

2019

stroke art fair | Munic, Germany

live painting „asia-wall“ | Wattens, Austria

2018

tattoo convention | Rosenheim, Germany

crazy mister sketchˋs birthday jam | Ötztal, Austria

2017

ink & ride festival | Hamburg, Germany

2016

tattoo convention | St. Gallen, Switzerland

tattoo convention | Rosenheim, Germany

2014

live painting poolbar festival | Feldkirch, Austria

2013

urban artforms festival | Graz, Austria

graffiti battle | Arbon, Switzerland

hall of fame graff jam & workshop | Bregenz, Austria

2012

live graffiti move 4 style dancescool Opening | Hohenems, Austria

graffiti live Installation Club Raumstation | St. Gallen, Switzerland

2011

freakwave festival streetart corner, Bregenz, Austria

innoperable galery meets UAF | Wiener Neustadt, Austria

2010

„artsonauts reloaded“ artsonaus galery | Kramsach, Austria

live graffiti „cysko vs. jens“ queen bee‘s art center | San Diego, USA

„stroke.02“ urban art fair | Munic, Germany

“rapid flows marker battle“ | Graz, Austria

“genius saeculli“ artsonauts galery | Kramsach, Austria

2009

kunstball 2009 | Ravensburg, Germany

“invasion“ group show galery Augenblick | Tannheim, Austria

2008

artemas festival live graffiti | Havanna, Cuba

live graffiti mural „desert wall“ JUZ between | Bregenz, Austria

2007

„inn-put“ group show Siebentannenareal | Innsbruck, Austria