BTS leader RM has opened up about his long-standing relationship with art and the personal story behind his collection ahead of the opening of his highly anticipated exhibition at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA).
Titled “RM x SFMOMA: Between You and Me,” the exhibition brings together works from RM’s personal collection with pieces from SFMOMA’s own holdings.
RM participated directly in selecting and organizing the works, making the project particularly personal to him.
During a media preview held at SFMOMA on September 29, RM discussed how his interest in collecting art developed and how the exhibition eventually came together.
The exhibition is scheduled to open to the public on October 3 and will remain on display through February 7, 2027.
It marks the first museum exhibition centered on RM’s personal art collection.
The exhibition features paintings, drawings, sculptures, ceramics, textiles, and design works.
SFMOMA describes the presentation as one of the largest displays of Korean modern and contemporary art in the United States, with nearly 200 works in total, including pieces from both RM’s collection and the museum’s holdings.
RM has also taken part in several aspects of the exhibition beyond simply lending his collection.
He wrote artwork descriptions and exhibition texts in both Korean and English and recorded audio guides for visitors.
He also selected music to accompany the galleries, giving the exhibition additional elements of his personal taste and perspective.
RM Explains How Art Became an Important Part of His Life
RM revealed that his interest in collecting art began approximately eight years ago, when he started visiting museums regularly.
His growing interest eventually developed into a collection that includes numerous works by modern and contemporary Korean artists.
The exhibition project itself began taking shape during his military service.
According to RM, SFMOMA approached him with the proposal approximately two years ago.
Looking back at that moment, he joked about how appealing an offer from San Francisco seemed while he was serving in the military.
Over time, the project developed into a much larger presentation involving RM, SFMOMA, and the museum’s curators.
Rather than simply presenting famous works, RM wanted the exhibition to communicate something about his personal relationship with art.
“This is the first time I’m sharing my collection under my name,” RM said.
“I think there are few things that reveal a person as honestly as a collection they have built over a long period of time.”
He described the exhibition as “quite an extensive self-introduction,” explaining that the artworks he has collected reflect his interests, emotions, and the way his perspective has developed over the years.
RM also spoke about why he has continued turning to art.
He explained that he sometimes feels as though he is drifting and that art has provided an emotional anchor during those moments.
He noted that this feeling exists whether he is in the United States or in Seoul, the city where he was born and raised.
A Personal Exhibition Connecting Korean Art and RM’s Perspective
The exhibition explores connections between personal and universal experiences, as well as between Eastern and Western artistic perspectives.
RM’s collection includes works by Korean modern and contemporary artists, some of whom he hopes international audiences will become more familiar with.
“I have collected them with the hope of adding a better perspective and sensibility,” RM said.
“That process has led to this exhibition.”
Visitors will be able to experience the collection alongside works selected from SFMOMA’s holdings.
The museum has created pairings between artworks to highlight connections involving artistic techniques, historical context, and emotional responses.
Works by Korean artists such as Yun Hyong-keun, Park Rae-hyun, Chang Uc-chin, Kim Whanki, and Nam June Paik are featured alongside works from international artists including Mark Rothko, Agnes Martin, and Henri Matisse.
The presentation also gives visitors access to RM’s own reflections.
His handwritten wall texts and recorded audio guide allow audiences to hear directly from him as they move through the exhibition.
SFMOMA’s collaboration with RM represents the museum’s first project with a K-pop artist.
The exhibition is therefore significant not only as a presentation of RM’s personal collection but also as an opportunity to introduce Korean modern and contemporary art to a wider international audience.
“RM x SFMOMA: Between You and Me” will open on October 3, 2026, and continue through February 7, 2027.
Through the exhibition, RM is sharing a side of himself that exists beyond his work as BTS’s leader and musician, using the art he has collected over the years to tell a more personal story about his interests, emotions, and creative perspective.
