Why RM’s collection exhibition at SFMOMA is a watershed moment for Korean art

It’s no secret that K-pop has become a global sensation, but in recent years its colossal cultural influence can increasingly be felt in the world of fine art. BTS, in particular, is a band whose music tops the charts and whose members also happen to be top collectors. This fall, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) will present RM x SFMOMA: Between You and Me, the first museum exhibition featuring artworks from the personal collection of RM of BTS. On view 3 October 2026 through 7 February 2027, the exhibition brings together nearly 200 works by Korean and international artists from the collections of the South Korean rapper, songwriter and music producer and the California institution.

‘We live in an age defined by boundaries. This exhibition at SFMOMA reflects those boundaries: between East and West, Korea and America, the modern and the contemporary, the personal and the universal’, RM, who curated the exhibition with SFMOMA’s América Castillo and Hyoeun Kim, has said.

Speaking to Christie’s, Castillo and Kim add: ‘We think what is especially meaningful is that, through one person’s collection, visitors can experience Korean art not as something limited to a particular period or genre, but as a broad and layered artistic tradition that has developed over a long span of time. Works separated by hundreds of years exist naturally alongside one another, revealing both continuity and change, as well as very different sensibilities within Korean art.

‘What also surprised us was how many connections began to emerge between the works,’ the co-curators continue. ‘As we developed the exhibition, we found ourselves looking less at each work in isolation and more at the relationships between works, and between people.’

By placing works by Mark Rothko, Donald Judd and Georgia O’Keeffe in dialogue with those by leading Korean figures of modern and contemporary art — many of whom are not yet well known internationally — RM and the museum endeavour to expand the narrative of 20th century art. Ahead of the exhibition, Yunah Jung, Christie’s VP, Senior Specialist, 20th/21st Century Art – Asia, who is based in Seoul, discusses this exhibition’s cultural impact and the artists she’s most excited for audiences to discover.

RM is a global superstar, but how well known is his art collection in Korea?

Yunah Jung: RM is widely recognised in Korea not only as a global music icon, but also as one of the country’s most visible and influential art patrons. Over the past several years, he has openly shared his engagement with museums, galleries and artists, helping to bring contemporary and modern art into mainstream cultural conversations. As a result, many Koreans know him as a serious collector whose interest extends well beyond celebrity culture.

Why is RM’s exhibition at SFMOMA such a major moment?

YJ: What makes this exhibition particularly significant is that it marks a rare moment when a major international institution is presenting a collection that reflects the personal vision of a contemporary Korean cultural figure. RM has assembled works based on genuine intellectual curiosity and long-term engagement with art, rather than trends or investment considerations. For many younger audiences, he has also helped democratise art collecting by showing that collecting can be driven by learning, curiosity and emotional connection.

The exhibition is also meaningful because it highlights Korea’s growing cultural influence beyond music and entertainment. It demonstrates how Korean artists and ideas are increasingly participating in global artistic dialogues, with RM acting as an important bridge between Korean culture and international audiences.

Who are a few Korean artists that you’re most excited to see featured?

YJ: One of the artists I am particularly excited to see represented is Yoo Youngkuk. A pioneering figure in Korean modern art, he belonged to the same generation as Kim Whanki and played a crucial role in shaping the development of postwar abstraction in Korea. While he is widely respected within Korea and by specialists of Asian art, he remains relatively underrecognised internationally compared to some of his peers. For that reason, I think this exhibition presents a valuable opportunity to introduce his work to a broader global audience.

Yoo’s paintings, inspired by mountains and nature but rendered through a highly distilled abstract language, offer a distinctive perspective on modernism that developed independently from Western traditions. As museums and collectors continue to broaden the narrative of 20th-century art, I believe his work has the potential to resonate with audiences seeking a more global understanding of abstraction.

Are there any Korean artists that you anticipate will garner more attention internationally after this exhibition?

YJ: I am also delighted to see artists such as Chang Ucchin and To Sangbong represented in the collection. Both are important figures in the history of Korean modern art and are deeply familiar names to Korean audiences, yet they remain largely unknown internationally. Chang Ucchin’s poetic and personal visual language, as well as To Sangbong’s elegant and refined approach to painting, occupy important places within Korea’s artistic canon.

Why would you encourage those who may not be as familiar with Korean art to visit this exhibition?

YJ: What I find most compelling about RM’s collection overall is that it presents a more nuanced view of Korean art. Rather than focusing solely on market-established names, it reflects the diversity of artistic voices and histories that have shaped Korea’s modern and contemporary art landscape. This makes the collection particularly valuable for international audiences encountering Korean art in greater depth for the first time.