As I See Them: Artist Ken Fallin on Turning Love Into Art

Artist Ken Fallin

In a world where wedding registries can feel predictable, one person is redefining the concept of the perfect gift. Artist Ken Fallin, whose deft, knowing pen has immortalized everyone from Barbra Streisand to Warren Buffett, is now a sought-after creator for couples who want to mark their big day with something personal, memorable, and utterly chic: a bespoke portrait that captures their essence, “as I see them.”

Fallin’s career as a pen-and-ink portraitist began in 1983 when he was asked to create witty drawings of the featured actors of the legendary cult show Forbidden Broadway; those drawings became the production’s hallmark ad campaign. He has gone on to work with The New Yorker, InStyle, The Wall Street Journal, HBO, Jazz at Lincoln Center, The Metropolitan Opera, American Express and more.

His art is in the permanent collection of London’s Victoria and Albert Museum, on the walls of The Players Club, and in the homes of luminaries like Sarah Jessica Parker, Bradley Cooper, and Sir Patrick Stewart. But lately, it’s brides, grooms, and their inner circles who want to own a Ken Fallin drawing.

I sat down with Fallin in his New York studio to talk about romance, weddings, and why his portraits have become the ultimate wedding gift for the couple who has almost everything.- Lou Iacovelli

Ken, you’ve drawn some of the most iconic faces in entertainment, business, and culture. What inspired you to start creating portraits for couples?

Ken Fallin: Love stories are universal—and I’m fascinated by how two people can radiate an entire narrative – communicated in the way they look at each other; the way they stand together. I’ve always drawn people “as I see them” and, when I started doing wedding portraits, it was like being invited into a couple’s most joyful life chapter. The resulting portrait isn’t just about how they look—it’s about who they are when they’re together.

Why do you think your work has become such a coveted wedding gift?

Ken Fallin: I think it’s because my portraits are personal in a way that few things are anymore. Couples are moving away from mass-produced gifts. My drawings are one-of-a-kind; they can include personal touches—like the bride’s bouquet, the groom’s favorite cufflinks, or even their beloved dog. Some clients commission portraits of the entire wedding party, or of a cherished family member. A portrait becomes a visual keepsake – a touchstone - that communicates a couple’s early love story for decades to come.

Your tagline is “As I See Them.”  How does that philosophy shape a wedding portrait?

Ken Fallin: “As I See Them” is my way of saying that each portrait distills a person—or a couple—down to their purest essence. It’s not about exaggerating features for humor; it’s about celebrating character. For couples, I want to capture that spark between them - that unspoken connection. When they see it, I want them to think “Yes!  That’s us!”

You’ve illustrated everyone from Sutton Foster to Lin Manuel Miranda to Jonas Kauffman. How does drawing a wedding couple compare to drawing a celebrity?

Ken Fallin: In a way, it’s the same. Whether it’s Analeigh Ashford or Timothy Chalamet or a bride and groom, I’m still telling a story in a single image. But weddings are special because the “celebrity moment” belongs entirely to the couple. They are the stars of their day, and my job is to make them seem timeless—like they’re “up in lights” on their own Broadway marquee, but in a way that is true to them, and only them.

Can you share one of your favorite wedding portrait commissions?

Ken Fallin: I once did a portrait for a couple who met at a jazz club. They asked me to include the band in the background, along with their closest friends in the audience. It became a joyful tapestry of their lives, all woven into one scene. Years later, they told me they still have it hanging in their living room, and it’s the first thing guests comment on when they walk in.

 For couples or gift-givers considering commissioning you, what’s the process like?

Ken Fallin: It’s very collaborative. I’ll review photos, hear the couple’s story, and learn what little details matter most to them. It’s as much about personality as it is about appearance. And the result is something deeply personal — a work of art that captures their love in a way that a photograph never could.

In a sea of wedding registries and endless champagne flutes, Ken Fallin’s portraits are pure magic — a couture gift from the heart. Whether it’s the couple themselves, the bride, the groom, the full wedding party, or a treasured family member, Ken’s work represents a moment in time, ineluctable and forever, “as he sees them.” To discover more of the World Of Ken Fallin log on to https://www.kenfallinportraiture.org/