Frames of Queer Becoming: Meeting Photographer Luca van Ruiten

Based in Rotterdam and born in 2004, photographer Luca van Ruiten moves between iconic portraiture, landscapes, social documentary and commercial work, without rushing to define a single “style”. As a queer artist who grew up in a small town, he uses photography to chart a personal journey of self‑acceptance and identity. For Ket’s Brussels‑based readers, his work offers a glimpse into a new generation of queer image‑makers who are as comfortable in visual diaries as they are in studio setups – and who see representation as something intimate, not just political.

A Life Built Around Cameras

Photography has “always been part of his life”: as a child, Luca was already drawn to cameras, video editing and photo manipulation – anything that allowed him to capture and create. That early fascination has expanded into a broad practice, open to evolution and experimentation, which he refuses to pin down too quickly.

Instead of claiming one fixed label, he leans into multiple modes: strong, iconic portraits that highlight personality (he cites a 2024 portrait of Kees van Ruiten as a key example), but also landscapes, social documentary and commissioned images that appear across his visual diary. This breadth will resonate with many queer photographers in Brussels, where jumping between art, community work and paid gigs is often the norm rather than the exception.

Queer, Personal, Cinematic

Luca explicitly describes himself as a queer artist, and says his work is “often personal”. Photography, for him, became a way to document his journey of self‑acceptance and to explore themes of identity. Growing up queer in a small town shaped his perspective and deepened his interest in art that questions norms – a story that feels familiar in many parts of Belgium and the Netherlands, far from big urban scenes.

He insists, however, that his images lean more toward cinematic storytelling than straightforward activism. The goal is not to make posters, but to create projects that may spark conversation: quiet frames, visual narratives and portraits that invite viewers to see queer lives as complex, stylish, vulnerable and, above all, human. That mix of aesthetics and subtle politics fits well with Ket’s own editorial angle, where we often highlight work that holds both beauty and critical distance.

Craft and Code: A Wide Skillset

Behind the images, there is a solid technical and creative base. Luca works both digitally and with analogue film, including development and printing processes. He mentions skills in studio and outdoor photography, but also in creative coding, bookbinding and publication design – a combination that positions him not just as a photographer, but as someone able to build full visual projects and objects.

For potential clients, he wants this broader skillset and aesthetic to be visible. He says he is adaptable to commercial assignments, but prefers to collaborate with those who appreciate his artistic vision rather than treat him as a purely functional service provider. In queer cultural ecosystems like Brussels, where magazines, festivals and grassroots projects often need flexible image‑makers, this kind of profile – mixing art, tech and print – is particularly valuable.

Practical Info

• Name: Luca van Ruiten.
• Born: 2004.
• Base: Rotterdam, Netherlands.
• Practice: Portraits, landscapes, social documentary, commercial photography; digital and analogue (film development and printing).
• Extra skills: Creative coding, bookbinding, publication design.
• Themes: Queer identity, self‑acceptance, cinematic storytelling, challenging norms.
• Contact / presence: Instagram and email via his About page – lucavanruiten.com/about.html.

For anyone in Brussels’ queer and creative scenes looking to connect with emerging photographers across borders, Luca’s work is a reminder that our visual stories travel easily – from small towns to Rotterdam, and, hopefully, to future collaborations with cities like ours.

KET Magazine is a community‑driven, non‑profit magazine run by volunteers and based in Brussels. You can find our other music and nightlife stories on ket.brussels, and you can always write to us to share your projects or pitch a story: info@ket.brussels