RM of BTS performed at the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Festival in Las Vegas, but his artistic influence extends beyond music. The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) anticipates a surge in visitors after RM revealed artworks from his personal collection. This marks the popstar’s first museum exhibition, drawing enthusiastic fans keen to view the art and purchase exclusive merchandise.
Among the attendees on the sold-out preview day were Joi Karra and Bre Walker. They met at a local BTS-themed event organized by Walker. Both are dedicated fans; Karra even creates BTS-inspired merchandise herself. Despite not usually being interested in art, Walker visited SFMOMA because of Kim Nam-joon, RM’s real name.
The exhibition, titled RM x SFMOMA: Between You and Me, showcases RM’s passion for art, a key aspect of the fan-coined lifestyle term ‘Namjooning’. It features paintings and sculptures from his collection, including pieces by Korean artists like Yun Hyong-keun and Kim Whanki.
RM, who curated the exhibit alongside SFMOMA’s team, aimed to ensure the collection resonates with contemporary audiences. He articulated two guiding questions: whether the art moved him and if it still has relevance today. For fans like Walker and Karra, the exhibition offers insight into RM’s interests and choices.
As they explored the exhibits, Walker and Karra connected with RM’s penchant for umber tones and abstract art. They also noticed symbolic elements, such as carved waterfowl, possibly alluding to BTS’s seven members. On encountering a rock engraved with ‘candy’ by artist Wonwoo Lee, the two were puzzled but intrigued by the creativity involved.
The exhibition features over 170 works, and fans like Sara Larios, who traveled from Zambia, actively share their BTS-inspired artistic creations, turning the event into a shared cultural experience. Larios remarked that RM inspired her to engage more with art, even organizing museum visits back home.
For Walker, the exhibition was a revelation, challenging her preconceptions about art appreciation. Her visit to SFMOMA was rewarding, sparking a newfound interest in museum experiences. ‘I’ll be back,’ she concluded, reflecting on her positive exposure to the art world.