BTS’ RM Explores Fame, Identity & Curiosity In Debut Art Exhibition ‘Between You And Me’ At SFMOMA — SkimNews
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- RM (Kim Namjoon) co-curated "RM x SFMOMA: Between You and Me," opening October 3 and running through February 7, 2027, alongside SFMOMA curator Hyoeun Kim — his first museum show and first time as co-curator.
- The exhibition pairs 142 pieces from RM's personal collection with 36 SFMOMA works — nearly 200 pieces total — across paintings, sculpture, ceramics, textiles and animation, featuring artists from Mark Rothko and Henri Matisse to Korean figures like To Sangbong and Yun Hyong-keun.
- A central room titled "I Don't Know, But I Like It" anchors the show with a Pikachu celluloid that RM describes as symbolizing the loneliness of fame: "This Pikachu looks a little lonely... Even Pikachu needs a break."
- RM's art engagement began with a 2018 visit to The Art Institute of Chicago during BTS tour downtime; he later donated approximately $80,000 to Korea's National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Foundation in 2020 and narrated an LACMA audio guide in 2022.
- In June, the National Museum of Korea appointed RM as its first Global Public Relations Ambassador, a role focused on promoting Korean cultural heritage globally.
- The opening lands mid-tour during BTS' 11-month run, with the Latin American leg launching days after the SFMOMA debut; BTS fans (ARMY) attended the preview handing out handmade gift bags, stickers and fanzines.
Why it matters: The exhibition reframes RM from celebrity dabbling into a multi-year cultural arc — $80,000 in Korean museum donations, an LACMA narration, and now a 142-piece co-curated show at SFMOMA — bridging Korean and international art for tens of thousands of BTS fans who might never otherwise set foot in a modern art museum.
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