<Tracey Emin: ‘I’ve done more in my last five years than in the whole rest of my life’ — Art News
arrow_back Back to all stories
museum exhibitions calendar_today Friday, February 13, 2026

Tracey Emin: ‘I’ve done more in my last five years than in the whole rest of my life’

Tracey Emin is the subject of a major retrospective at Tate Modern titled 'A Second Life,' which spans her career from her first solo show in 1993 to recent works. The exhibition is structured thematically around pivotal life events and includes a documentary addressing her 2020 bladder cancer diagnosis and subsequent surgery.

The retrospective highlights Emin's profound artistic evolution following her health crisis, which she describes as a catalyst for a more productive and fulfilling 'second life.' It underscores her enduring influence on contemporary art through her confessional approach and her recent philanthropic efforts, including founding a free art school in her hometown of Margate, cementing her status as a pivotal cultural figure.