BTS' RM to showcase personal art collection for the first time at San Francisco Museum: Date, venue, theme and more

For the first time, a global K-pop artist is curating an exhibition at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA), and in doing so, BTS leader RM has made history. Known worldwide for his music and leadership in BTS, RM, aka Kim Namjoon, is finally showing his art collection, after collecting it and visiting museums globally over the years. The event marks a major cultural moment where music and visual art converge on an international stage.

Venue, date, theme of BTS' RM x SFMOMA exhibition

The upcoming exhibition, titled RM x SFMOMA, will run from October 2026 through February 2027 at the prestigious San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. It will feature a deeply personal selection of around 200 art pieces, some from RM’s private collection, others from Korean artists, and select works from SFMOMA’s archives.


This marks RM’s first public display of his personal art collection, a journey that has long intrigued his fans. Whether through Instagram posts, thoughtful interviews, or museum visits shared online, RM’s quiet passion for visual art has often stood out. Now, fans and art lovers alike will get to see what inspires one of the world’s most influential musicians, up close and in person.


The exhibition will be co-curated by RM, along with América Castillo, curatorial project manager at SFMOMA, and Hyoeun Kim, assistant curator. Together, the team aims to create more than just a display, they’re building what RM calls "a small but sturdy bridge."

Speaking about the project, RM shared a deeper philosophy behind the show. He shared that we live in an age defined by boundaries. This exhibition reflects those boundaries, between East and West, Korea and America, the modern and the contemporary, the personal and the universal.

Rather than prescribe how the audience should experience the art, RM hopes people will approach it with their own curiosity and perspective. "All perspectives are welcome. Whether out of curiosity or study, my only hope is that this can be meaningful to many," he said.

SFMOMA’s chief curator Janet Bishop also expressed excitement, calling the exhibition an “unprecedented opportunity” to view RM’s beautiful and contemplative collection in conversation with the museum’s own.

More about RM's upcoming art exhibition

RM’s collection is reported to include works from internationally renowned artists like KAWS and Murakami Takashi, as well as celebrated Korean names such as Lee Dae Won and Kim Jong Hak. This thoughtful mix of Eastern and Western influences reflects RM’s own journey, both as a K-pop icon and as an individual.


The announcement, made officially by SFMOMA on October 2, 2025, has already created a buzz across social media and the art world. Fans now eagerly await the day they can walk through the halls of the museum and experience RM’s artistic worldview. We cannot wait. On the other hand, the global boy band BTS is also gearing up for their comeback album in Spring 2026 and it's going to be something we never witnessed.