BTS’s RM (Kim Namjoon, 31) is taking his passion for art to the next level — and this time, the world gets to see it up close.
Known for his deep love of modern and contemporary art, the BTS leader and passionate art collector will partner with the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) to host a special exhibition titled “RM X SFMOMA.”
Scheduled to run from October 2026 to February 2027, the show will mark a historic collaboration — the first time SFMOMA has ever teamed up with a K-pop artist, and the first time RM will officially showcase his collection to the public.
A Historic Collaboration Between K-pop and Art
A Historic Collaboration Between K-Pop and Art
SFMOMA, one of the most respected modern art museums in the U.S., has confirmed that Kim will serve as both curator and collaborator for the project. The exhibition will feature approximately 200 artworks, combining pieces from his personal collection and the museum’s holdings.
In a post on Instagram, RM shared his excitement:
I will do my best to make it fun and worthwhile for everyone who visits.
He also reflected on how the project came together:
I vividly remember myself brainstorming ideas after receiving a call from SFMOMA late last year. I first started going to art museums in 2018, and through diligent study and collection, I have come to prepare this humble exhibition. It is an honor.”
Inside RM’s Personal Collection
RM’s collection, which has long intrigued fans and art insiders alike, will finally be revealed in detail. While some of his works have quietly appeared in Korean galleries over the years, he had always requested privacy regarding the artists and pieces displayed.
He often visits exhibitions quietly, shares museum trips on social media, and even promotes underrecognized artists — all without making his collection public.
This time, however, the full scope of his passion project will be on view. According to BIGHIT MUSIC, the exhibition will feature works by major figures of Korean modern and contemporary art, including:
- Yun Hyong Keun
- Park Rehyun
- Kwon Ok Yeon
- Kim Yun Shin
- Do Sang Bong
- Jang Wook Jin
Many of these artists hold personal meaning for RM. He has often spoken about how their work shaped his own creative process, especially during his solo career.
The Artist Who Inspired His First Studio Album “Indigo”
Among the artists in his collection, Yun Hyong Keun holds a special place in RM’s heart. The late painter’s signature shades of deep blue inspired the concept for his 2022 solo album, Indigo.
The album’s photoshoot featured RM standing beside Yun’s 1972 painting Blue, wearing denim — a visual metaphor for how both art and people “fade and change with time.” The “Wild Flower” rapper described the album as “a diary-like project filled with honest emotions,” saying that Yun’s work was “the starting point.”
Jang Wook Jin, Kim Yun Shin, and Other Favorites
RM’s passion for art goes far beyond admiration — he collects with sincerity and purpose. He has publicly expressed his love for Jang Wook Jin, leaving a memorable message at one of the artist’s exhibitions:
“I want to live simply too. Jang Wook-jin is the best.”
He owns several of Jang’s tranquil paintings, known for their depictions of peaceful family homes, birds, and trees. Six of RM’s Jang Wook jin pieces were even displayed at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art’s Deoksugung branch in 2023.
He has also championed artists like Park Rehyun, calling her work “moving” and “overlooked for too long,” and Kim Yun Shin, a 90-something sculptor who still carves wood with a chainsaw. RM’s visit to her solo show in Seoul last April once again drew attention to his genuine engagement with Korea’s art community.
What to Expect from RM x SFMOMA: 200 Works, East Meets West
The exhibition will feature around 200 works, combining pieces from RM’s personal collection and selections from SFMOMA’s own holdings. This setup allows a compelling dialogue between modern Korean art and global modern and contemporary works.
From RM’s side, some of the artists whose work will appear include Yun Hyong Keun, Park Re Hyun, Kwon Okyon, Kim Yun Shin, To Sangbong, and Chang Ucchin — all names that reflect his deeply personal tastes and longtime admiration.
On the museum’s side, expect to see works from figures such as Kim Whanki, Mark Rothko, Henri Matisse, Georgia O’Keeffe, Paul Klee, and more.
The museum described the collaboration as a chance to “explore artistic boundaries between East and West, the modern and contemporary, and the personal and the universal.”
For the art world, it’s a meaningful dialogue — one that brings Korean creativity into conversation with global modernism. For fans, it’s a rare glimpse into RM’s inner world, his inspirations, and the deep thought that fuels both his art and his music.
RM’s dedication to art goes beyond collecting for prestige. Since first visiting museums in 2018, he has quietly built a significant collection, using his influence to spotlight underappreciated Korean artists. Some experts have even joked that “RM could easily open his own museum.”
Now, with SFMOMA, he is opening that world to everyone.
