[Edaily Starin KIM HYUNSIK Reporter] RM of the group BTS is holding a special exhibition showcasing his personal collection at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) in the U.S.

According to his agency, Big Hit Music, on the 30th, the exhibition will run from the 3rd of next month (all times local) through February 7 of next year. This marks the first time RM has exhibited his personal collection at an art museum.
RM was directly involved in the overall planning and curation of the exhibition. He selected the works and conceived the exhibition layout in collaboration with SFMOMA’s co-curators, América Castillo and Kim Hyo-eun.
Approximately 180 works will be brought together under one roof. Visitors will be able to view works by artists representing modern and contemporary Korean art—including Yoon Hyung-keun, Park Rae-hyun, Jang Uk-jin, Kwon Ok-yeon, Kim Yun-shin, and Do Sang-bong—alongside pieces from SFMOMA’s collection by artists such as Kim Whan-ki, Nam June Paik, Mark Rothko, Agnes Martin, Henri Matisse, and Georgia O’Keeffe.
Big Hit Music explained, “This exhibition will offer a glimpse into the evolution of Korean art from the 6th century to the present day through ceramics, calligraphy, painting, and sculpture.”
Among the works on display, approximately 140 pieces were collected by RM. RM personally wrote the exhibition and artwork descriptions in both Korean and English and also participated in recording the audio guide and selecting the music.
Through his agency, RM stated, “This is the first time I’m sharing my collection under my own name. I believe there’s little that reveals a person’s true self as honestly as a collection amassed by one person over a long period of time. In that sense, this exhibition will serve as a rather lengthy self-introduction.”
He added, “My collection includes many works by modern and contemporary Korean artists. While some of these names may still be unfamiliar outside of Korea, I’ve collected these pieces with the hope of offering a slightly better perspective and sensibility, and that process has led to this exhibition.”
This marks the first time SFMOMA has held a collaborative exhibition with a K-pop artist since its founding. Big Hit Music explained the background, stating, “The museum took notice of RM’s taste and his consistent interest in contemporary art and approached us first with the project proposal.”
Christopher Bedford, Director of SFMOMA, stated, “This project aligns closely with SFMOMA’s mission to expand the global dialogue surrounding art. We are creating a space within the museum for new voices, while also inviting visitors who have been introduced to contemporary and Korean art through RM to experience it here.”