RM, the leader of K-pop sensation BTS, performed at the iHeartRadio Music Festival in Las Vegas in September 2026. Simultaneously, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) is witnessing increased visitor numbers thanks to RM’s art collection exhibit, a first public showing for the pop star.
Shane Salvata, the museum’s director of retail, prepared for a significant boost in sales due to the exhibit. RM’s personal collection has drawn fans eager to see the artworks and purchase memorabilia. The event, RM x SFMOMA: Between You and Me, illustrates his collecting journey. RM collaborated with SFMOMA curators to create the exhibition, which includes Korean and international art pieces.
Fans Enthralled by Namjooning
Members of BTS’s fanbase, known as ARMY, coined the term “Namjooning” to describe activities associated with RM’s interests, such as museum visits and art collection. Bay Area fans Joi Karra and Bre Walker, who attended the sold-out first preview, showed marked enthusiasm. Walker shared her initial visit to an art museum was due to Kim Nam-joon, RM’s real name, indicating his profound influence.
Karra, a college student who crafts BTS-themed products, expressed her love for art, indicating her frequent visits to SFMOMA. Both fans explored RM’s motivations behind his collection choices, eager to understand his artistic preferences.
RM’s Artistic Journey
RM’s interest in art started nearly a decade ago. Drawing inspiration from art and museums, pieces like “Yun” and “Still Life” reflect this. His collection heavily features Korean artists like Yun Hyong-keun, Kim Whanki, and Chang Ucchin.
The exhibition’s diversity includes a side-by-side display of a Yun Hyong-keun painting with a Mark Rothko piece, showcasing artistic dialogue. The exhibit portrays RM’s personal narrative through art, making it both an introduction and a connection to his audience.
Exhibit Exploration and Interpretation
Walker and Karra navigated the exhibit’s sections, such as a yellow-brown umber focused area. Walker noted RM’s fascination with nature and earth-colored art. Karra added she enjoyed how abstract art invited interpretation and engagement.
A section centered on the natural world and animals featured seven wooden waterfowl, indirectly reflecting BTS’s seven members, a theory posited by Karra due to RM’s seasonal snow duck tradition. Other complex pieces like Wonwoo Lee’s “Candy Valley” spurred curiosity, fittingly located in the section “I don’t know … but I like it.”
Community and Artistic Growth
The exhibition, with over 170 artworks, encouraged slow and thoughtful exploration. Fans frequently engaged each other, sharing self-made BTS-inspired art. Sara Larios, a visitor from Zambia, mentioned RM motivated communal art experiences back home.
Karra found profound meaning in receiving handmade art from fellow fans, considering it a creative dialogue. Walker admitted the museum experience enabled her newfound appreciation and willingness to return for more art explorations, realizing prior art knowledge isn’t essential for appreciation.
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