From the mosaics of four-legged friends discovered on the walls of Pompeii to the furry Fido in Titian’s Venus of Urbino to David Hockney’s depictions of Dachsunds, artists and dogs have been intertwined for thousands of years.
But these days, thanks to social media, fans no longer have to wait for a painting to catch a glimpse of an artist’s pet. Instagram accounts dedicated entirely to showcasing the art world’s most beloved dogs allow us daily peeks into their everyday lives.
Here are eight of the best dedicated dog accounts that just so happen to be run by contemporary artists.
Kehinde Wiley’s Sudan and Togo
Names: Sudan and Togo
Artist owner: Kehinde Wiley
Followers: 1,000
Pet vibe: Glamorous. Wiley’s dogs are serving fresh blowout vibes at all times, and they’ve been known to hang out with the likes of Naomi Campbell, Swizz Beatz, and June Ambrose.
Instagram: @sudanandtogo
Jordan Nassar and Amir Guberstein’s Kasha
Name: Kasha
Artist owners: Jordan Nassar and Amir Guberstein
Followers: 349
Pet vibe: Extremely relatable. This bulldog enjoys midday naps, giving serious side-eye, and hanging out on the couch.
Instagram: @kasha_varnishke
Mika Tajima’s Biggie
Name: Biggie
Artist owner: Mika Tajima
Followers: 133
Pet vibe: Art-world insider. A quintessential art dog, Biggie naps and hangs at the studio, all while posing perfectly for the camera.
Instagram: @biggiedogs
Amy Sherald’s George and Weezie
Name: George and Weezie
Artist owner: Amy Sherald
Followers: 2,041
Pet vibe: Sweet but sassy. Don’t be fooled, these albino Pekingnese pups are cute and they know it. Plus, their outfits are just as put together as any of Sherald’s notoriously well-dressed portrait subjects.
Instagram: @georgeandweezie_official
Farah Al-Qasimi’s Cleopatra
Name: Cleopatra
Artist owner: Farah Al-Qasimi
Followers: 44
Pet vibe: Muse in the making. Although only recently adopted, Cleo has already learned how to look right at the camera so her photographer mom can capture the perfect shot.
Instagram: @cleopatrabatchild
Grace Miceli’s Tony
Name: Tony
Artist owner: Grace Miceli
Followers: 254
Pet vibe: Loyal. Besides his puppy-dog eyes and attentive ears, Tony seems to be down for anything and everything, from camping in the mountains to chilling in the studio.
Instagram: @tonygiovannimiceli
Alix Pearlstein and Bill Adams’s Benny
Name: Benny
Artist owner: Alix Pearlstein and Bill Adams
Followers: 85
Pet vibe: A little bit human. Maybe it’s the toothy grin or civic engagement, but based on the photos we have a strong sense that you could talk to this dog, and we wouldn’t be surprised if one day he talked back.
Intstagram: @billandbenny
Emily Mae Smith’s Zoey Wiggleton
Name: Zoey Wiggleton
Artist owner: Emily Mae Smith
Followers: 125
Pet vibe: Cookie-cutter cute. Given the surreal nature of Smith’s work, one could reasonably expect her to have an out-of-this-world pet (Dalí’s ocelot and anteater come to mind), but the only thing this surprisingly normal dog has in common with the figures in her owner’s compositions is an understated regality.
Instagram: @zoe_wiggleton
Honorable meow-ntion:
GaHee Park’s Park Harlem
Name: Park Harlem
Artist owner: GaHee Park
Followers: 16
Pet vibe: Chaotic. If the above photo doesn’t solidify the slightly unhinged nature of this cat for you, the bio for this Instagram page reads “Not Nice Cat. Mini Satan in Cute Body.” Probably still would try to pet him though.
Instagram: @park_harlem_meow