Tracey Emin: A Second Life at Tate Modern

Published on 23 April 2026

Tracey Emin My Bed 1998 © Tracey Emin. Photo credit Courtesy The Saatchi Gallery, London. Photograph by Prudence C.

Tracey Emin: A Second Life

Tate Modern, London

27 February – 31 August 2026

This spring, Tate Modern presents Tracey Emin: A Second Life, the most comprehensive exhibition to date dedicated to one of the most influential voices in contemporary art. Spanning over four decades of practice, the exhibition offers a deeply personal yet universally resonant exploration of Emin’s work, tracing the emotional and physical experiences that have shaped her artistic language.

From her early installations of the 1990s to her most recent large-scale paintings and sculptures, Emin’s practice has consistently blurred the boundaries between the personal and the public. Her unapologetic approach to self-expression has redefined the possibilities of contemporary art, placing the female body, memory, and vulnerability at the centre of her work.

The exhibition brings together more than ninety works across a wide range of media, including painting, video, textile, neon, sculpture, and installation. Early pieces such as Tracey Emin CV (1995) and the seminal video Why I Never Became a Dancer (1995) introduce visitors to her confessional voice, rooted in autobiographical narrative and emotional immediacy.

Tracey Emin, I Never Asked to Fall in Love – You Made Me Feel Like This, 2018 © Tracey Emin.

At the heart of the exhibition are two of Emin’s most iconic installations: Exorcism of the Last Painting I Ever Made(1996) and My Bed (1998). These works not only marked pivotal moments in her career but also challenged traditional definitions of art, confronting viewers with raw, unfiltered experiences of intimacy, trauma, and identity.

A central thread throughout the exhibition is Emin’s enduring connection to Margate, her hometown, which continues to inform both the imagery and emotional depth of her work. Recent paintings reveal a shift towards a more introspective and painterly language, where the body appears fragmented, gestural, and almost spectral, conveying a sense of survival, resilience, and transformation.

While themes of pain, loss, and vulnerability remain present, A Second Life ultimately gestures towards renewal. Following recent personal challenges, including serious illness, Emin’s latest works embody a profound sense of continuation — a commitment to living, creating, and confronting experience through art.

Outside the gallery, the monumental bronze I Followed You Until The End (2023) extends the exhibition into the public space, reinforcing Emin’s ability to merge the intimate with the monumental.

Tracey Emin: A Second Life runs at Tate Modern, London, until 31 August 2026.