Pamela Hornik began collecting contemporary art in 2010, after volunteering at Stanford’s Cantor Arts Center opened an unexpected new chapter in her life. Pamela’s weekly dose of art immersion at the Cantor quickly transformed into an obsession. Over time, she has built a collection of contemporary figurative art guided by a deep connection with the art and artists and the desire to live with works that fully represent the vibrant and diverse world of humans on this planet.

A turning point in her collecting journey came when Teddy, her beloved Maltese-Chihuahua rescue, entered her life in 2012. Their bond proved transformative. Teddy became not only a cherished companion, but also a source of inspiration that helped bring Pamela’s love of art and dogs into closer conversation. During the COVID-19 lockdown, she began sharing her “Two Minutes with Teddy” videos on Instagram, pairing Teddy with artworks in brief, personal reflections. Increasingly, Pamela acquired works of art depicting dogs — a subject matter that resonated powerfully with both Pamela and Teddy — and featured them in her videos and daily Instagram meditations.

What began as a personal celebration of companionship, affection, and the human-dog bond grew into a significant collection of dog imagery by major twentieth- and twenty-first-century artists. Works of “dog art” from Pamela’s collection have since been borrowed by major museums throughout the country, underscoring the important role of dogs in fine art. More importantly, however, these joyous pieces have brought delight to viewers young and old wherever they have been displayed and nothing makes Pamela happier.