BTS RM Unveils 140 Personal Art Treasures at SFMOMA in Landmark Exhibition ‘Between You and Me’

BTS leader RM debuts his coveted 140-piece private art collection at SFMOMA in a landmark exhibition bridging Korean heritage and Western modernism.

An Unprecedented Milestone: RM x SFMOMA ‘Between You and Me’

In what stands as one of the most culturally significant cross-pollinations between contemporary pop culture and fine art in recent history, BTS leader RM (Kim Nam-joon) has officially opened the doors to his private artistic sanctum. On September 29, 2026, the global visionary appeared at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) for the advance preview of the special exhibition, ‘RM x SFMOMA: Between You and Me.’

Co-organized by RM and SFMOMA's curatorial team, the historic exhibition officially opens to the public on October 3, 2026, and runs through February 7, 2027. This marks the very first time RM has publicly exhibited his private collection inside a world-class institutional museum, shedding light on years of thoughtful, quiet patronage that have quietly revitalized global interest in Korean modernism.

"A Long Self-Introduction": Curating Personal Meaning

Rather than acting as a passive lender, RM stepped into the role of co-curator and artistic storyteller. Through his agency, BigHit Music, RM shared the deep emotional intention underpinning the exhibition:

RM's personal fingerprint touches every corner of the exhibition experience. He penned the gallery texts and comprehensive wall didactic descriptions in both Korean and English. Furthermore, visitors will navigate the galleries guided by RM’s voice via official bilingual audio tours, accompanied by an ambient musical soundscape personally selected and sequenced by the musician himself.

Bridging Hemispheres: A Dialogue of 180 Masterworks

The exhibition features an expansive curation of approximately 180 works, weaving together RM’s private holdings with iconic gems from SFMOMA’s permanent collection. Out of these, approximately 140 pieces hail directly from RM’s personal vault—the vast majority of which are being publicly exhibited in the United States for the very first time.

The visual dialogue creates an exquisite bridge between East and West. Seminal Korean modernists—including Dansaekhwa titan Yun Hyong-keun, pioneering female modernist Park Re-hyun, humanist visionary Chang Ucchin, Kwon Ok-yeon, boundary-breaking sculptor Kim Yun-shin, and still-life luminary To Sang-bong—stand in poetic conversation with Western titans such as Mark Rothko, Agnes Martin, Henri Matisse, and Georgia O’Keeffe, alongside global pioneers Kim Whanki and Nam June Paik.

Beyond modern oil paintings and monumental abstraction, the curation prominently features traditional Korean ceramics, Joseon white porcelain, historical calligraphy, and tactile wooden and stone sculptures. The result is an immersive spatial meditation on form, restraint, and the timeless human spirit.

SFMOMA Director Christopher Bedford on Welcoming New Voices

Marking the premier institution’s inaugural partnership with a global pop music icon, SFMOMA Director Christopher Bedford underscored the paradigm-shifting value of the collaboration.

"Through this exhibition, our ambition is to spark conversations that travel far beyond San Francisco to connect with diverse global communities," Bedford remarked with enthusiasm. "It represents opening the doors of the museum to vital, refreshing new perspectives. We warmly invite audiences who were first introduced to modern art through RM to step inside and experience this world firsthand."

By placing Korean modern masters into direct, uninhibited dialogue with the Western canon, RM does more than showcase personal wealth or taste; he functions as a transformative cultural ambassador. ‘Between You and Me’ breaks down institutional elitism, offering a warm, intimate invitation for millions across the globe to discover the transcendent solace of modern art.