OREANDA-NEWS. December 05, 2012. Supported by OAO Severstal ("Severstal" or "Company"), Art That I Live With, an exhibition of Russian artworks from Mikhail Baryshnikov's collection opened at the  ABA Gallery, New York on December 3. This is the first time that so many works from the legendary dancer's collection have been exhibited to the public.

Natalya Poppel, Head of Severstal’s Corporate Social Responsibility Department, said: "Severstal's charitable activities are largely focused on promoting the best pieces of Russian art, and on cultural dialogue. I am sure that the exhibition will help reinforce cultural and business links between the two countries and will provide visitors with an opportunity to really enjoy the artistic works.”

Baryshnikov' began his collection in Paris in 1975 when the eminent dancer purchased a graphic portrait of Sergei Diaghilev by Jean Cocteau, and a sketch of Balanchin's Mozartiana by Christian Berard. Ever since, he has specifically sought works of art for his collection dedicated to ballet and theater.

The core of Baryshnikov's collection currently comprises sketches of theatrical scenery and costumes, portraits of artists and dancers, including a unique portfolio of graphic works by Alexander Benois, works by Nikolai Sudeikin, Mstislav Dobuzhinsky, Mikhail Larionov, Jean Cocteau, Eugene Berman, Leonore Fini, and Raoul Dufy.

Later the collection extended to embrace creative products by Ilya Repin and Mikhail Shemyakin, graphic works by Iosif Brodsky, works by Alexander Yakovlev, Nikolai Lapshin, Anatoly Zverev, Oleg Tselkov, and others.

ABA, New York's largest art gallery, has a 30+ year record of dealing with works of classical and contemporary Russian art, putting an emphasis on painters of the 19th century and early 20th century. Collaboration with ABA has enabled many major state-owned and private collections in Europe and USA to obtain important works of Russian art.