The largest survey exhibition of Tracey Emin is set to open at Tate Modern in 2026
Tate Modern will open the largest survey exhibition of Dame Tracey Emin’s career, A Second Life, in February 2026. Spanning more than 40 years of her practice, the show highlights Emin’s fearless exploration of passion, pain, and healing, with a focus on the female body and personal experience. Featuring over 90 works, including paintings, videos, textiles, neon, sculpture, and installations, the exhibition traces the pivotal moments in Emin’s life that have shaped her artistic journey. Conceived in close collaboration with the artist herself, A Second Life promises a comprehensive and intimate insight into her confessional approach to art.
Tracey Emin, Why I Never Became a Dancer, 1995 © Tracey Emin
The exhibition begins with Emin’s early works, including photographs from her first solo exhibition My Major Retrospective 1982-93, which capture destroyed student paintings from the 1980s. These are shown alongside Tracey Emin CV (1995), a self-portrait and narrated life story, and the poignant video Why I Never Became a Dancer (1995), recounting her teenage trauma. Together, these pieces introduce visitors to Emin’s distinctive first-person storytelling, revealing the confessional voice that has become her hallmark. Through these formative works, the exhibition highlights Emin’s early confrontation with personal history and creative identity.
Tracey Emin, My Bed, 1998 Tate Lent by The Duerckheim Collection 2015 © Tracey Emin
Emin’s lifelong connection to her hometown of Margate is another key theme of the exhibition. Works such as Mad Tracey From Margate: Everybody’s Been There (1997) and It’s Not the Way I Want to Die (2005) reflect her experiences and anxieties tied to the seaside town. The show also addresses Emin’s personal traumas, including sexual assault and abortion, with works such as I could have Loved my Innocence (2007) and The Last of the Gold (2002). Central to the exhibition are the iconic installations Exorcism of the Last Painting I Ever Made (1996) and My Bed (1998), documenting Emin’s recovery from trauma, addiction, and illness, marking the transition from her “first life” to her “second life.”
Tracey Emin, I whisper to My Past Do I have Another Choice, 2010. © Tracey Emin
In its later sections, A Second Life presents Emin’s exploration of resilience, survival, and creativity in the face of illness and disability. Recent works, including the bronze sculpture Ascension (2024) and large-scale paintings, reflect a transcendent, spiritual approach to life after cancer and surgery, while Death Mask (2002) reminds viewers of her ongoing confrontation with mortality. Outside the gallery, the monumental bronze I Followed You Until The End (2023) invites the public to engage with Emin’s visceral and innovative work on an entirely new scale. Describing the show, Emin said: “A Second Life will be a benchmark for me. A moment in my life when I look back and go forward. A true celebration of living.”
Dates: 26 February – 31 August 2026. Location:Tate Modern, Bankside, London SE1 9TG. Price: from £20. Concessions available. Book now
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