BTS's RM, has made a huge impact beyond music with an art exhibition held at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA). Since opening on October 3, the exhibition, titled RM x SFMOMA: Between You and Me, has sold more than 66,000 tickets, attracting extraordinary attention and providing significant financial support for the museum .
A report from the British newspaper, The Guardian, noted that advance ticket sales were six times higher than for other exhibitions at SFMOMA, demonstrating unprecedented demand for the museum.
Furthermore, exhibition merchandise was also a bestseller, with many items selling out in just three hours. Shane Salvata, the museum's retail director, described the response as unprecedented and unlikely to be repeated.
The exhibition's success comes at a crucial time for SFMOMA, which has previously faced financial challenges, including a $5 million deficit last year and a 7.5% workforce reduction. The exhibition features 142 works of art from RM's personal collection, as well as 36 works from the SFMOMA collection.
Visitors can explore paintings, sculptures, calligraphy, and other works personally selected by RM. RM also contributed a recorded audio guide and music playlist, giving visitors the opportunity to further explore his artistic interests.
In a press conference before the opening, RM shared the personal meaning behind the exhibition. "There aren't many things that show a person more honestly than a collection they've built over a long period of time," he said.
He also acknowledged his lack of formal training in art history or curatorial work, adding that someone from outside the traditional art world can sometimes bring a fresh perspective. RM explained that while the project began with simple intentions, preparing descriptions for the artworks required numerous rewrites.
The Guardian also praised the exhibition's artistic content, noting that while RM's celebrity status garnered significant attention, his collection and curatorial work also deserved recognition.
America Castillo, a curator at SFMOMA who first approached RM about the exhibition two years ago while he was serving in the military, said she was surprised by the emotional reactions from visitors.
Castillo shared that seeing people cry in the exhibition's galleries was unexpected but deeply moving. Interest in the exhibition also came from abroad, with hundreds of fans reportedly lining up outside the museum on opening day.
With over 66,000 tickets sold and record-breaking demand, RM's latest project highlights his growing influence in the international art world. RM x SFMOMA: Between You and Me will run at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art until February 7, 2027.
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