BTS leader RM is to bring his personal art collection to San Francisco for a major exhibition at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, in what will be its only US presentation.
RM x SFMOMA: Between You and Me will open to the public on October 3 and run until February 7, 2027. The exhibition will bring together nearly 200 works from RM’s collection and that of SFMOMA, including Korean modern and contemporary art shown alongside pieces by international artists. ([sfmoma.org](https://www.sfmoma.org/exhibition/rm-x-sfmoma/?utm_source=openai))
The presentation is being curated by RM, whose real name is Kim Namjoon, alongside SFMOMA curatorial project manager América Castillo and assistant curator of painting and sculpture Hyoeun Kim.
It is the first museum exhibition to feature works from the BTS star’s personal collection. SFMOMA said nearly 150 pieces from the collection would be displayed, with many of the Korean artworks having never previously been exhibited publicly in the United States. ([sfmoma.org](https://www.sfmoma.org/exhibition/rm-x-sfmoma/?utm_source=openai))
RM’s collection meets SFMOMA
The exhibition will span paintings, drawings, sculpture, ceramics, textiles and design. Works collected by RM will be placed in dialogue with pieces from SFMOMA, exploring themes including nature, memory and human existence across different cultures and periods.
The artworks range from historic pieces dating back centuries to work by leading modern and contemporary artists. Names represented include Korean artists Chang Ucchin, Yun Hyong-keun and Park Rehyun, alongside figures such as Henri Matisse, Georgia O’Keeffe, Mark Rothko, Yves Klein and Nam June Paik.
RM’s interest in art developed partly through museum visits while BTS was touring. He has said he began looking more closely at Korean artists after recognising the importance of understanding his own cultural roots.
The exhibition is intended to offer visitors an insight into the influences behind the musician’s creative life without dictating how the works should be interpreted.
RM has recorded an audio guide in English and Korean, while handwritten wall texts and labels will appear throughout the galleries. He has also chosen music for a playlist to be played in the exhibition.
“I just hope for it to be really personal,” RM said in material released by SFMOMA. The museum described the collection as an intimate view of the art that has shaped and moved him.
A new audience for modern art
SFMOMA said the collaboration reflected its aim of widening international dialogue around art and reaching people who may not have seen themselves represented in traditional art institutions.
Castillo said the exhibition could bring new visitors into the museum while also challenging assumptions about who should curate major exhibitions.
RM said he hoped the show would act as a bridge between East and West, Korea and the United States, and between the personal and the universal.
The exhibition will be housed on the museum’s seventh floor. Visitors must book a separate timed ticket for access, as general admission alone does not include entry to the RM x SFMOMA presentation. Members will have advance preview access from October 1 to 3. ([sfmoma.org](https://www.sfmoma.org/exhibition/rm-x-sfmoma/?utm_source=openai))
SFMOMA will also host a 21-and-over Rooftop Radio: K-pop event on October 15, featuring DJs, dance performances and drag acts. Tickets cost 35 US dollars for non-members, although the event does not include admission to the RM exhibition unless visitors buy a combined ticket. ([sfmoma.org](https://www.sfmoma.org/event/rooftop-radio-k-pop/?utm_source=openai))
