The kim? Contemporary Arts Centre, in collaboration with the Baryshnikov Arts Center (BAC) in New York and the Riga Bourse Art Museum, offers an insight into the art collection of Riga-born Mikhail Baryshnikov by creating an exhibition of works given by Baryshnikov to the BAC.

Mikhail Baryshnikov’s interest and fascination with the world of visual arts started in the 1970s when he began to assemble a variety of small works on paper. A few of the works came to Baryshnikov as gifts, but the vast majority of the collection came from him purchasing individual pieces that appealed to him aesthetically over many years.

The collection is proof of a bright intellect, expertise and intuition. One of its notable aspects is its stylistic diversity that is marked by a journey from realism to impressionism, and also includes several later styles such as surrealism and various works of theatre, set and costume design.

The collection was first shown at the ABA Gallery in New York in 2012 and later at the Pushkin Museum in Moscow in 2013.

The Riga exhibition is accompanied by a catalogue and an educational programme.

A native of Riga, Mikhail Baryshnikov became the principal dancer of the Kirov Ballet in 1969. In 1974, he left the Soviet Union to dance with major ballet companies around the world, including the New York City Ballet. In 1980, he began a decade-long tenure as the artistic director of the American Ballet Theatre, nurturing a new generation of dancers and choreographers. From 1990 to 2002, Baryshnikov was the director and principal dancer of the White Oak Dance Project, which he co-founded with choreographer Mark Morris to fulfil his desire to expand the repertoire and visibility of American modern dance. As an actor, he has performed widely on and off Broadway as well as in television and film, receiving a Tony Award nomination, a Drama Desk Award and an Academy Award nomination. In 2005, he opened the Baryshnikov Arts Center (BAC) in New York as a creative home for local, national, and international artists.

BAC is the realisation of a long-held vision by Mikhail Baryshnikov to build an arts centre in Manhattan that would serve as a gathering place for artists from all disciplines. Its opening in 2005 heralded the launch of this mission to establish a thriving creative laboratory and performance space for artists from around the world. BAC’s activities encompass a robust residency programme augmented by a range of professional services, including commissions of new work, as well as the presentation of performances by artists at varying stages of their careers. In tandem with its commitment to supporting artists, BAC is dedicated to building audiences for the arts by presenting contemporary and innovative work.