RM’s Collection Show Draws More Than 66,000 Visitors to SFMOMA

BTS leader RM’s personal art collection is drawing record crowds to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. The Guardian reported on October 24 that RM’s exhibition “RM x SFMOMA: Between You and Me” has sold more than 66,000 tickets since it opened. Advance bookings ran six times higher than for any previous exhibition in the museum’s history.

The show opened on October 3 and runs through February 7, 2027. It brings together 142 works from RM’s personal collection and 36 works from SFMOMA’s collection. The selection spans paintings, calligraphy and sculpture, and even includes a cel from the Pokemon anime. RM co-curated the exhibition with SFMOMA curators America Castillo and Hyoeun Kim.

The project began about two years ago, when Castillo proposed the exhibition while RM was serving in the military. At a press preview, RM said, “There aren’t many things that show a person more honestly than a collection they’ve built over a long period of time.” He added, “I never formally studied art history, and I’m not a curator.” In SFMOMA’s announcement, RM said, “My only hope is that this exhibition can be a small but sturdy bridge for many.”

One of the most talked-about moments in the galleries pairs Korean and Western art side by side. Yun Hyong-keun’s “Umber-Blue” hangs next to Mark Rothko’s “No. 24.” Visitors can also listen to an audio guide recorded by RM, along with a playlist he curated. One gallery is named “I don’t know, but I like it.”

The response has shown up in numbers as well. Exhibition merchandise sold out in about three hours at the museum store and online store. Hundreds of fans reportedly lined up outside the museum on opening day.

The attendance surge matters more because of the museum’s finances. SFMOMA reported a deficit of about 5 million dollars last year and cut 7.5 percent of its staff. The Guardian analyzed that the RM exhibition is giving the museum a financial boost by bringing in a wave of visitors.

RM is currently on the road with BTS on the group’s “ARIRANG” world tour. The group performs in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on October 28 and October 30 and 31.