From RM’s “Indigo” (2022)
BIGHIT MUSIC
SFMOMA has partnered with RM of BTS to present his personal art collection in RM x SFMOMA: Between You and Me.
Running from October 3 through February 7, 2027, the exhibition marks the only U.S. presentation of his collection. RM himself, alongside co-curators América Castillo and Hyoeun Kim of SFMOMA, organized the showcase. SFMOMA members will have early access from October 1 through 3.
Nearly 200 works by Korean and international artists are featured, providing a rare public glimpse into RM’s private collection. The showcase spans modern and contemporary Korean art from various global regions and time periods.
“We live in an age defined by boundaries,” says RM, real name Kim Namjoon, in the press release. “This exhibition reflects those boundaries—between East and West, Korea and America, the modern and the contemporary, the personal and the universal. I do not wish to prescribe how these works should be viewed; whether out of curiosity or study, all perspectives are welcome. My only hope is that this exhibition serves as a small but sturdy bridge for many.”
An avid collector, RM has shared his passion for art and history with fans, often visiting local museums during the group’s world tours. On the Intersections: The Art Basel podcast, he revealed falling in love with art in 2018 after visiting the Art Institute of Chicago. He noted that collecting gave him “the standard to live as a better man, as a better adult, and as a better artist.”
Little did he know, his passion for art and museums inspired his legion of fans to explore local galleries and exhibitions—a practice they call “Namjoon-ing.” Through his influence, greater recognition has been afforded to Korean artists.
On his 27th birthday in 2020, RM donated US$84,000 to the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Foundation in Korea. The funds were used to print and reissue books on Korean art for distribution to libraries and schools nationwide, featuring artists Kim Whan-ki, Lee Jung-seob, Yoo Young-kuk, Park Nae-hyeon, and Yun Hyong-keun. For his 2022 solo album Indigo, RM drew inspiration from “Blue,” a study by artist Yun Hyong-keun (1928–2007). In 2022, he also narrated a special audio guide for the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) exhibition, “The Space Between: The Modern in Korean Art.”
(Courtesy of RM x SFMOMA) Image 1: Chang Ucchin, The River Scene, 1988; collection of RM; © Chang Ucchin Foundation, courtesy Seoul Auction, Image 2: Yves Klein, Éponge (SE251) (Sponge [SE 251]), 1961; San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, bequest of Phyllis C. Wattis; © Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / ADAGP, Paris; photo: Katherine Du Tiel
RM x SFMOMA
“RM x SFMOMA closely aligns with our mission to expand global dialogue around art,” noted Christopher Bedford, Helen and Charles Schwab Director of SFMOMA. “This exhibition creates space for new voices within the museum, while also welcoming visitors who have been introduced to contemporary and Korean art through RM.”
The collection showcases works by key figures in modern and contemporary Korean art, including Chang Ucchin, Kim Yun Shin, Kwon Okyon, Park Rehyun, To Sangbong, and Yun Hyong-keun, alongside notable contemporary artists from around the world. The exhibition will also display SFMOMA collection pieces by Donald Judd, Kim Whanki, Yves Klein, Agnes Martin, Henri Matisse, Georgia O’Keeffe, Nam June Paik, and Mark Rothko, among others.
“While centered on modern and contemporary Korean art, RM’s collection encompasses the broader trajectory of art in Korea, from the 13th century to the present,” commented Hyoeun Kim, assistant curator of painting and sculpture at SFMOMA. “Through this collaboration, it is especially meaningful to bring the depth and richness of his collection to a wider audience.”
“This exhibition is an invitation for visitors to trust their own perspective,” noted América Castillo, curatorial project manager at SFMOMA. “These artists remind us that art was never separate from everyday life; it is found in the places we return to, the people we care about, and the questions that stay with us.”
According to SFMOMA, “works from RM’s collection and SFMOMA’s collection are placed in dialogue, showing how artists from different contexts have explored universal topics related to nature, memory, and human existence in their own distinct ways.” Visitors are invited to view familiar works in a new light and encounter other artwork for the first time.
How to Get Tickets
Tickets for RM x SFMOMA are currently on sale. SFMOMA members can reserve timed tickets starting October 1 through 3.
For those wishing to visit frequently, SFMOMA offers the Encore pass, which permits repeat visits to RM x SFMOMA: Between You and Me from opening day through the final weekend.
Special Features
Visitors can use their personal listening devices to access an audio guide in English and Korean, recorded specifically for this presentation by RM. The exhibition will also feature bilingual wall texts and labels written by RM, who additionally curated the gallery playlist to accompany the artwork.
Location
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
151 Third Street
San Francisco, CA 94103
RM x SFMOMA: Between You and Me opens to the public from October 3, 2026, to February 7, 2027. The member preview begins October 1–3, 2026.
