[REVIEW] RM reveals art that inspires him at SFMOMA

RM’s SFMOMA exhibition in San Francisco presents him as a collector and curator as much as a BTS star, with works and notes drawn from his personal taste. The show, RM x SFMOMA: Between You and Me, includes paintings, ceramics, sculpture, textiles and mixed-media pieces, and runs through Feb. 7, 2027. Visitors also see his handwritten reflections, while SFMOMA says the opening weekend is sold out. The exhibit was designed to make art feel less intimidating and to expand global dialogue around it.

The exhibition includes meditative paintings by Yun Hyong-keun, playful scenes by Chang Ucchin and centuries-old examples of Korean pottery.

Nam June Paik’s television installation is one of the highlighted works, and RM describes it in his audio guide with the line, We are his TV.

The special RM x SFMOMA store sells clothing, hats, tote bags, ceramics, notebooks and other items inspired by the exhibition’s visual identity.

SFMOMA temporarily paused online preorders after receiving thousands of orders within the first few hours after opening.

The exhibition runs through Feb. 7, 2027, and tickets remain available for later dates, especially on weekdays.

Published Oct 5, 2026 3:43 pm KST

Updated Oct 5, 2026 6:01 pm KST

Exhibition draws BTS fans as well as art lovers

RM speaks ahead of a preview for the "RM X SFMOMA: Between You and Me" art exhibit at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Sept. 29, in San Francisco. AP-Yonhap

SAN FRANCISCO — To millions around the world, Kim Nam-joon is RM, the leader of BTS, as well as a rapper, songwriter and producer. But on the seventh floor of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA), another side of the global superstar comes into focus as a collector, student of art and curator.

For fans of a global superstar accustomed to stadiums filled with screaming crowds, the experience at SFMOMA feels remarkably intimate. Rather than presenting RM the performer, the exhibition offers a glimpse into the objects and artists that have captured his attention in quieter moments.

For anyone planning to visit the newly opened "RM x SFMOMA: Between You and Me" exhibit in San Francisco, California, be sure to set aside plenty of time, as there is a lot to take in.

Visitors will quickly come to understand how personal this exhibit is for RM, as guests are welcomed into the exhibit hall with a giant mural featuring notes and writing about the works in his own hand. From there, spectators move between bold paintings and delicate ceramics to sculpture, textiles and mixed-media works.

Content creators take pictures of paintings by artists Yun Hyong-keun and Mark Rothko during a preview for the "RM X SFMOMA: Between You and Me" art exhibit at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Sept. 29, in San Francisco. AP-Yonhap

There are meditative paintings by Yun Hyong-keun, playful scenes of everyday life by Chang Ucchin and centuries-old examples of Korean pottery. I was especially drawn to Nam June Paik’s television installation, where technology, spirituality and even the viewer become part of the work. RM described the piece with characteristic humor in his audio guide: “We are his TV.”

That attention to detail continues even inside the museum store. The special RM x SFMOMA collection includes clothing, hats, tote bags, ceramics, notebooks and other pieces inspired by the exhibition’s visual identity, including RM’s own handwritten reflections and its muted, earth-toned palette.

The store also carries items imported from MU:DS, the merchandise brand of the National Museum Foundation of Korea, giving visitors another way to connect with Korean art and design beyond the galleries. Despite a limit of two items per person, the response has already been enormous — SFMOMA temporarily paused online preorders after receiving thousands within the first few hours after opening.

People buy merchandise during a preview for the "RM X SFMOMA: Between You and Me" art exhibit at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Sept. 29, in San Francisco. AP-Yonhap

RM described art as something he has leaned on during periods when he felt as though he were “drifting and floating somewhere.”

That personal relationship with art is at the heart of the exhibition.

The collaboration began about two years ago, when SFMOMA curatorial project manager América Castillo proposed turning RM’s approach to collecting and experiencing art into a museum exhibition. Castillo acknowledged that art can sometimes feel “intimidating” to people outside the traditional art world. Alongside assistant curator Kim Hyo-eun and RM himself, the team designed the exhibition with the hope of breaking down some of those barriers. SFMOMA director Christopher Bedford has described it as an opportunity to expand the “global dialogue around art.”

A woman walks through a gallery during a preview for the "RM X SFMOMA: Between You and Me" art exhibit at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Sept. 29, in San Francisco. AP-Yonhap

That excitement was also clear to see in the faces of RM's fans. For many ARMY — as BTS fans refer to themselves — who gathered outside, hoping to catch a glimpse of RM at the museum, the exhibition offers something far more personal than seeing him onstage.

“It’s incredible to see him in this setting,” said one middle-aged woman, who explained she had been to more than ten BTS concerts but felt this was an even more personal way to experience her favorite group. For her and others, this exhibit provides a chance to better understand what inspires RM when the lights and music are gone.

Fans wait outside, hoping to see RM during a preview for the "RM X SFMOMA: Between You and Me" exhibit at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Sept. 29, in San Francisco. AP-Yonhap

The exhibition runs through Feb. 7, 2027. The opening weekend is already sold out, though SFMOMA says tickets remain available for later dates, particularly on weekdays.

Dion Lim is a freelance journalist based in San Francisco. She can be reached at dion@dionlim.com.

RM在旧金山现代艺术博物馆（SFMOMA）举办的展览，不仅展现了他作为BTS明星的身份，更展现了他作为收藏家和策展人的身份，展出的作品和笔记都体现了他的个人品味。此次名为“RM x SFMOMA：你我之间”的展览涵盖绘画、陶瓷、雕塑、纺织品和混合媒介作品，展期至2027年2月7日。参观者还能看到他的手写感想。SFMOMA表示，开幕周末的门票已售罄。此次展览旨在降低艺术的门槛，并促进围绕艺术的全球对话。

展览展出了尹亨根的冥想画作、张宇镇的嬉戏场景画作以及几个世纪前的韩国陶器。

白南准的电视装置是重点作品之一，RM 在他的语音导览中用这样一句话来描述它：“我们就是他的电视。”

RM x SFMOMA 特别商店出售受展览视觉形象启发而设计的服装、帽子、手提袋、陶瓷、笔记本和其他物品。

旧金山现代艺术博物馆 (SFMOMA) 在开馆后的短短几个小时内就收到了数千份在线预购订单，随后暂时停止了在线预购。

展览将持续到 2027 年 2 月 7 日，之后的日期仍有门票出售，尤其是在工作日。

发布于2026年10月5日下午3:43（韩国标准时间）

更新于2026年10月5日韩国时间下午6:01

展览吸引了BTS粉丝以及艺术爱好者。

9月29日，RM在旧金山现代艺术博物馆举行的“RM X SFMOMA：你我之间”艺术展预展前发表讲话。美联社-韩联社

旧金山——对全世界数百万粉丝来说，金南俊是防弹少年团（BTS）的队长RM，同时也是一位说唱歌手、词曲作者和制作人。但在旧金山现代艺术博物馆（SFMOMA）的七楼，这位全球巨星的另一面——收藏家、艺术研究者和策展人——也逐渐展现在世人面前。

对于习惯了体育场内震耳欲聋的呐喊声的全球巨星粉丝来说，旧金山现代艺术博物馆的展览体验显得格外亲切。展览并非展现RM作为表演者的形象，而是让观众得以一窥他在宁静时刻所关注的物品和艺术家。

如果您计划参观位于加利福尼亚州旧金山新开幕的“RM x SFMOMA：你我之间”展览，请务必预留充足的时间，因为有很多东西值得一看。

参观者很快就会感受到这场展览对RM而言意义非凡，因为迎宾厅内一幅巨大的壁画便是RM亲笔书写的关于作品的笔记和文字。随后，观众们穿梭于气势恢宏的绘画、精致细腻的陶瓷、雕塑、纺织品以及各种混合媒介作品之间。

9月29日，在旧金山现代艺术博物馆举行的“RM X SFMOMA：你我之间”艺术展预展上，内容创作者们拍摄了艺术家尹亨根和马克·罗斯科的画作。美联社-韩联社

这里有尹亨根的冥想画作，张宇镇描绘日常生活的趣味场景，以及一些有着数百年历史的韩国陶器。我尤其被白南准的电视装置作品所吸引，在这件作品中，科技、精神乃至观众本身都成为了作品的一部分。RM在他的语音导览中用他特有的幽默方式描述了这件作品：“我们就是他的电视。”

这种对细节的关注甚至延伸到了博物馆商店内部。RM x SFMOMA 特别系列包括服装、帽子、手提袋、陶瓷、笔记本和其他受展览视觉形象启发而创作的单品，其中包括 RM 的手写感想和其柔和的大地色系配色。

这家商店还出售来自韩国国立博物馆财团旗下品牌MU:DS的进口商品，为参观者提供了在美术馆之外接触韩国艺术和设计的另一种途径。尽管每人限购两件商品，但反响依然十分热烈——旧金山现代艺术博物馆（SFMOMA）在开业后的短短几个小时内就收到了数千份在线预购订单，不得不暂时停止接受预订。

9月29日，在旧金山现代艺术博物馆举行的“RM X SFMOMA：你我之间”艺术展预展上，人们正在购买周边商品。（美联社-韩联社）

RM 将艺术描述为他在感觉自己“漂泊不定”的时候所依靠的东西。

这种与艺术的个人联系是本次展览的核心。

这项合作始于大约两年前，当时旧金山现代艺术博物馆（SFMOMA）策展项目经理阿美莉卡·卡斯蒂略（América Castillo）提议将RM的艺术收藏和体验方式融入博物馆展览中。卡斯蒂略承认，对于传统艺术圈之外的人来说，艺术有时会让人感到“难以接近”。在助理策展人金孝恩（Kim Hyo-eun）和RM本人的共同努力下，团队设计了此次展览，希望能够打破这些壁垒。SFMOMA馆长克里斯托弗·贝德福德（Christopher Bedford）将其描述为拓展“全球艺术对话”的契机。

9月29日，在旧金山现代艺术博物馆举行的“RM X SFMOMA：你我之间”艺术展预展期间，一名女子走过展厅。美联社-韩联社

RM粉丝脸上的兴奋之情也显而易见。对于许多聚集在博物馆外、希望能一睹RM风采的ARMY（防弹少年团粉丝的自称）来说，这场展览提供的远比在舞台上看到他更具意义。

“在这种场合看到他真是太棒了，”一位中年女士说道。她解释说自己看过十多场BTS演唱会，但觉得这次的体验更加私人化，让她能更近距离地感受自己最爱的组合。对她和其他人来说，这次展览提供了一个机会，让他们更好地了解当灯光和音乐消失后，RM的创作灵感源自何处。

9月29日，在旧金山现代艺术博物馆举行的“RM X SFMOMA：你我之间”展览预展上，粉丝们在馆外等候，希望能一睹RM的风采。美联社-韩联社

展览将持续到 2027 年 2 月 7 日。开幕周末的门票已经售罄，但旧金山现代艺术博物馆表示，之后的日期，特别是工作日，仍有门票出售。

Dion Lim是一位居住在旧金山的自由撰稿人。可以通过dion@dionlim.com联系到她。