RM makes curatorial debut with Korean art exhibition at SFMOMA

BTS leader RM, whose real name is Kim Namjoon, has made his curatorial debut with his first art exhibition at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA).

Titled “RM x SFMOMA: Between You and Me,” the exhibition draws from RM’s decade-long collection of Korean art, offering a glimpse into his personal journey with art while introducing audiences to modern and contemporary Korean works.

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The exhibition brings together works by artists including Yun Hyong-keun, Park Rehyun and Chang Ucchin, alongside ceramics, calligraphy, painting and sculpture. Several of the works have never previously been exhibited in the United States.

RM has also recorded audio guides for the artworks, sharing his thoughts on the artists and explaining what drew him to each piece. For the BTS star, the exhibition is both a personal reflection and an opportunity to encourage audiences to engage more closely with art.

“This is an introduction of me. I want people to know me,” RM said during a media interaction, adding that he hopes the exhibition encourages people to visit galleries and appreciate the effort behind artworks.

The exhibition is organised around dialogues between Eastern and Western artistic traditions across seven themed gallery rooms.

The opening room, “The Overture,” features Kim Whanki’s blue-dot painting 26-I-70 (1970). “Bluewater” brings together works exploring ideas of infinity and metaphysical space through blue pigments, while “Home” and “Person with Passion” focus on themes including comfort and human resilience.

A more playful space, titled “IDK but I like it,” reflects RM’s approach of enjoying art based simply on how it makes the viewer feel, without feeling pressured to analyse every work. Meanwhile, “Umber” presents a darker and quieter environment featuring the earthy tones associated with Dansaekhwa artists.

RM described the exhibition as a possible bridge in an era increasingly defined by boundaries.

“We live in an age defined by boundaries,” he said. “My only hope is that this exhibition can be a small but sturdy bridge for many.”

Through his collection and curatorial choices, the exhibition places Korean art in conversation with wider artistic and cultural perspectives while offering audiences a more personal look at RM’s decade-long relationship with art.