I’m Öncü Hrant Gültekin, a Rotterdam-based German-Armenian visual artist and lens-based storyteller with 15+ years of professional experience across commercial, cultural, and documentary work. I specialize in campaign photography, end-to-end production management, and visual identity development, helping brands and institutions translate ideas into images and moving narratives that connect. Alongside commissioned projects, I develop experimental short documentary work and maintain a long-term archive documenting contemporary dance, performance art, and movement at major cultural venues. I’ve led creative productions and directed video teams, bringing modern digital tools into practical workflows, and I’m also active through curatorial exhibitions and photobook publications, where my work continues to explore memory, bodies, and space.…

Öncü Hrant Gültekin

I’m Öncü Hrant Gültekin, a Rotterdam-based German-Armenian visual artist and lens-based storyteller with 15+ years of professional experience across commercial, cultural, and documentary work. I specialize in campaign photography, end-to-end production management, and visual identity development, helping brands and institutions translate ideas into images and moving narratives that connect. Alongside commissioned projects, I develop experimental short documentary work and maintain a long-term archive documenting contemporary dance, performance art, and movement at major cultural venues. I’ve led creative productions and directed video teams, bringing modern digital tools into practical workflows, and I’m also active through curatorial exhibitions and photobook publications, where my work continues to explore memory, bodies, and space.…

Available to hire

I’m Öncü Hrant Gültekin, a Rotterdam-based German-Armenian visual artist and lens-based storyteller with 15+ years of professional experience across commercial, cultural, and documentary work. I specialize in campaign photography, end-to-end production management, and visual identity development, helping brands and institutions translate ideas into images and moving narratives that connect.

Alongside commissioned projects, I develop experimental short documentary work and maintain a long-term archive documenting contemporary dance, performance art, and movement at major cultural venues. I’ve led creative productions and directed video teams, bringing modern digital tools into practical workflows, and I’m also active through curatorial exhibitions and photobook publications, where my work continues to explore memory, bodies, and space.

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Language

English
Fluent
Turkish
Fluent
German
Fluent
Dutch
Intermediate

Work Experience

Production Lead & Photographer at ON&ON
June 1, 2022 - Present
Photographed and led numerous end-to-end productions for commercial campaigns, brand identities, and cultural projects.
Self-Employed — Cultural Grants
January 1, 2022 - Present
Developed experimental short documentary projects and maintained a multi-year archive documenting contemporary dance and performance art at major cultural venues (including K3 and Kampnagel in Hamburg). Provided private photography and video production, as well as visual storytelling instruction, supporting cultural documentation and movement-based narratives.
Co-Founder & Creative / Production Lead at ON&ON / studio falan
January 1, 2022 - Present
Directed end-to-end production and led campaign photography for commercial and cultural brand launches. Managed full brand identity development and campaign execution for clients including FILOS (olive oil brand), ParfumLab (fragrance brand), and the 35th-anniversary rebranding for Bakırköy Municipality Theater (BBT). Oversaw agency-level visual strategy, client outreach, and complete project lifecycles.
Head of Video Department at Thies Rätzke Images
January 1, 2021 - September 1, 2022
Led end-to-end video production for internal communications and promotional campaigns for corporate brands.
Studio Manager at Thies Rätze Images
September 1, 2019 - December 31, 2022
Head of Video Department at Thies Rätze Images
January 1, 2019 - January 1, 2022
Led end-to-end video productions for corporate clients, managing internal communications campaigns and external promotional initiatives. Directed production teams, supported creative direction, and handled post-production workflows for corporate video strategy.

Education

Bachelor of Arts in Documentary Photography and Photojournalism at Hochschule Hannover
September 1, 2013 - July 1, 2017
Master of Arts in Lens-Based Media at Piet Zwart Institute - Willem de Könnig Academy
September 1, 2024 - July 31, 2026
MA — Lens-Based Media at WdKA, Piet Zwart Institute
January 1, 2024 - January 1, 2026
BA — Documentary Photography and Photojournalism at Hochschule Hannover
January 1, 2013 - January 1, 2017

Qualifications

Scholar of Friedrich-Ebert Stiftung
September 1, 2015 - January 1, 2019
DAAD Kreativen Wertpapier Scholar
January 1, 2015 - January 1, 2015
Scholar of Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (Rotterdam)
January 1, 2014 - January 1, 2019
Winner — Vienna Photo Book Festival (Everything Is New)
January 1, 2016 - January 1, 2016

Industry Experience

Media & Entertainment, Education, Non-Profit Organization
    Production Lead & Campaign Photographer

    Representing ON&ON alongside my creative partner, we developed a fresh brand identity for Bakırköy Municipality Theater (BBT) on the occasion of its 35th anniversary. As the oldest municipal theater in Türkiye, BBT required a modern visual refresh; I served as the production lead and campaign photographer for the anniversary identity and poster shoots.

    Lead Campaign Photographer & Production Lead

    FILOS is a new brand producing high-quality olive oils. Through ON&ON, my creative partner and I developed the branding concept and handled the entire production, with me shooting the campaign photography.