RM Art Exhibition Draws Crowds to Struggling SFMOMA
The 142-piece collection has moved 66,000 tickets since opening in October 2026.
Updated on Oct. 24, 2026 in Fine Art
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Visitors are flocking to SFMOMA following the October 2026 opening of a new exhibition featuring the private collection of BTS member RM. The show, titled RM x SFMOMA: Between You and Me, has driven record-breaking ticket sales for the institution.
Why it matters
The museum is leaning on this high-profile partnership to stabilize its finances after reporting a $5 million deficit and laying off 7.5% of its workforce last year. Whether this surge in attendance can consistently meet the museum's reduced annual target of 600,000 visitors remains to be seen.
The exhibition has moved 66,000 tickets toward the museum's annual target of 600,000 visitors, a key metric for recovery after a $5 million deficit and 7.5% staff reduction last year. Future attendance trends following the initial rush remain unknown.
The players
RM
A member of the music group BTS whose personal art collection is currently on display at SFMOMA.
SFMOMA
The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, which is currently working to address a significant budget deficit.
The details
The exhibition features 142 works, including 36 pieces from the museum's own vault, spanning paintings, calligraphy, sculpture, and a Pokémon animation cel. RM provided personal text labels for the pieces alongside a curated audio guide and playlist. Exhibition merchandise sold out within three hours of the October opening, signaling strong demand.
Timeline
The RM x SFMOMA exhibition opened in October 2026.
SFMOMA laid off 7.5% of its workforce in 2025.
Across the Bay
SFMOMA's partnership with RM follows a model established by the 2024 Brooklyn Museum exhibition, which showcased the private collections of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys. Like the Brooklyn project, this effort attempts to bridge the gap between contemporary music culture and traditional gallery spaces.
If you plan to visit the exhibition, expect high demand and limited availability for exhibition-specific merchandise, which sold out in hours after the opening. The show remains on view as the museum works to reach its 600,000-visitor goal for the year.
The takeaway
This show represents a significant pivot for a museum looking to replace lost revenue with massive, pop-culture-adjacent draws. Keep an eye on museum attendance figures through the end of the year to see if this strategy provides a lasting financial cushion.
Further reading
For more on local gallery trends and museum programming, visit our Fine Art section.
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