Art collector Joel Lubin travels to Margate, England, to commission a portrait from Brogan Bertie, winner of the Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year prize. During his visit, Lubin tours the Carl Freedman Gallery, meets artists in Tracey Emin's TEAR residency program, visits the Turner Contemporary, and has dinner at Emin's home, where he also encounters works by emerging artists.
This article matters because it highlights Margate's transformation into a vibrant arts hub driven by Tracey Emin's patronage and residency program, TEAR, which supports emerging talent. It also underscores the personal connections between collectors, artists, and local institutions that sustain the art ecosystem, while showcasing Brogan Bertie's rising profile as a portraitist.