Tracey Emin Retrospective at Tate Modern

Titled "A Second Life," the exhibition spans 40 years of Tracey Emin's career, featuring over 90 works. It includes iconic pieces like her neon sculptures and paintings, as well as works that have never been exhibited before. The retrospective runs until August 21, 2026, with tickets priced at £20. Emin first gained notoriety as part of the Young British Artists (YBAs), a group that emerged in London in the late 1980s known for their shock tactics and use of unconventional materials. Her work has consistently been autobiographical and confessional, exploring themes of love, sexuality, loss, and trauma through various media including drawing, painting, sculpture, and video. One of her most famous works, "My Bed" (1998), is a centerpiece of the exhibition. The installation features her own unmade bed, complete with stained sheets, empty alcohol bottles, and other personal detritus, representing a period of severe depression. The piece was shortlisted for the Turner Prize in 1999 and sold at auction in 2014 for over £2.5 million. Another significant early work was the tent titled "Everyone I Have Ever Slept With 1963–1995," which featured the appliquéd names of everyone she had shared a bed with, platonically or sexually. This piece, along with her confrontational television appearances, solidified her reputation as an "enfant terrible" of the art world. The retrospective's title, "A Second Life," takes on a poignant meaning following Emin's battle with bladder cancer, which was diagnosed in 2020. She underwent major surgery, and her more recent works directly confront her illness, bodily fragility, and survival. In addition to her well-known installations, the exhibition showcases Emin's work in other media. Her 1995 film, "Why I Never Became a Dancer," explores her traumatic adolescence in the seaside town of Margate. Her expressive monoprints and large-scale paintings are also featured, demonstrating the breadth of her artistic practice. Now a Dame and a Royal Academician, Emin's work has shifted from being seen as purely provocative to being celebrated for its raw honesty and emotional power. The exhibition has been met with critical acclaim, with reviewers noting its unflinching look at pain and resilience. Outside the museum, a monumental bronze sculpture continues her exploration of the body, straddling vulnerability and defiance.