Heidi J. Hornik

Dr. Heidi J. Hornik is a Professor of Art History and Department Chair at Baylor University’s College of Arts & Sciences. She specializes in Italian Renaissance and Baroque art, with interdisciplinary interests in theology, digital humanities, and data visualization. Her academic journey includes B.A. from Cornell University and M.A./Ph.D. from Penn State University. She has held prestigious fellowships at Harvard University and Cambridge University.

Dr. Hornik’s research focuses on artists like Michele Tosini and the Ghirlandaio Workshop, leveraging data visualization techniques for art historical analysis. She co-authored/co-edited influential works on art and theology, including Illuminating Luke series and Interpreting Christian Art. Her recent book The Art of Christian Reflection explores art’s role in spiritual practice.

Her awards include the 2025 Cornelia Marschall Smith Professor of the Year, recognizing her teaching excellence, research impact, and service. She mentors undergraduate and graduate students, directing fifteen honors theses and chairing committees. Dr. Hornik founded the peer-reviewed digital journal VENUE for the Midwest Art History Society and serves on editorial boards for Oxford University Press and La Bibbia e Le Donne. She also chairs Baylor’s Tenure Committee and contributed to the Robert Foster Cherry Award for Great Teaching.

Teaching includes advanced courses on Renaissance, Mannerism, Baroque art, and art theory. She integrates digital tools like data dashboards and global art mapping into curricula. Beyond academia, she participates in triathlons, officiates swimming meets, and engages with international art communities through lectures in Europe and the U.S.