BTS' RM Exhibits Personal Art Collection at SFMOMA

BTS member RM, born Kim Namjoon, is bringing his personal art collection to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) for a new exhibition titled 'RM x SFMOMA: Between You and Me.' This exhibition, which opens on October 3, 2026, marks the first time a museum will present artworks collected by RM. The show is co-curated by RM himself, alongside SFMOMA curators América Castillo and Hyoeun Kim. It will feature approximately 200 works, drawing from RM's private collection and SFMOMA's existing holdings. Many of the Korean artworks included in the exhibition have never been publicly displayed in the United States before. RM, widely recognized as the leader, rapper, and songwriter for the global music phenomenon BTS, has also emerged as a significant proponent and advocate for Korean art. His approach to collecting is described as personal and contemplative, aiming to connect seminal figures of Korean modernism with contemporary artistic practices from both Korea and international artists. The exhibition will showcase pieces from RM's collection by artists such as Yun Hyong-keun, Park Rehyun, Kwon Okyon, Kim Yun Shin, To Sangbong, and Chang Ucchin. These works will be displayed alongside selections from SFMOMA's collection, including pieces by renowned artists like Kim Whanki, Mark Rothko, Agnes Martin, Henri Matisse, Georgia O'Keeffe, and Paul Klee. The exhibition's curatorial approach intends to move beyond a simple presentation of a celebrity's possessions. Instead, 'Between You and Me' focuses on the profound emotional and intellectual connections that can form between an individual and a piece of art. The exhibition aims to explore recurring themes and ideas that transcend generations and geographical boundaries, creating dialogues between Korea and the United States, the East and the West, and the personal and the universal. RM expressed his hope for the exhibition, stating, 'I don’t want to prescribe how these works should be seen,' and envisioning it as a 'small but sturdy bridge' for visitors. The exhibition will be on view at SFMOMA.