Tracey Emin: “A Second Life” – Her Largest-Ever Survey Opens at Tate Modern This Week
London, 27 February 2026 — One of Britain’s most fearless and beloved artists finally gets the monumental show she deserves. Tracey Emin: A Second Life opens today at Tate Modern as the most comprehensive survey of her 40-year career — and it is already being hailed as a defining moment for contemporary art in 2026.
Spanning the Eyal Ofer Galleries, the exhibition brings together more than 90 works — paintings, sculptures, video, textiles, neon, and installation — many never seen before. Conceived in close collaboration with Emin herself, it traces the raw, unfiltered arc of her life: love, loss, trauma, survival, and rebirth. From the shocking confessional installations of the 1990s to her powerful recent paintings and bronzes, the show celebrates her transformation and her unbreakable commitment to honesty.
At the heart of the exhibition are two legendary pieces:
- Exorcism of the Last Painting I Ever Made (1996) — the intense performance work created in Stockholm.
- My Bed (1998) — the Turner Prize-nominated installation that captured the world: her own unmade bed from a period of breakdown, surrounded by empty bottles, cigarette packets, and the detritus of despair and survival.
The title “A Second Life” is deeply personal. After a near-fatal illness and cancer battle in recent years, Emin has described this chapter as a true rebirth — moving permanently to Margate, founding her own art school and foundation, and pouring her energy into community work while creating some of her most ambitious paintings yet.
Emin said: “I’m very excited about having a show at Tate Modern. For me, it’s one of the greatest international contemporary art museums in the world and it’s here in London.”
The exhibition runs until 31 August 2026 and is presented in partnership with Gucci, with additional support from the Tracey Emin Exhibition Supporters Circle and Tate Members.
Why This Show Matters in 2026
In a year already packed with major retrospectives (Frida Kahlo, Raphael, Duchamp), Tracey Emin’s survey feels especially urgent. It’s not just about one artist — it’s about what raw, autobiographical art can do in a world hungry for authenticity. Emin uses her own body and experiences as a mirror for universal emotions, and this show lets us see the full, unflinching journey.
Practical details
- Dates: 27 February – 31 August 2026
- Location: Tate Modern, Bankside, London
- Tickets: Standard admission; free for Tate Members (no booking needed). Relaxed Hours available monthly.
- Book now: Tate.org.uk
Official links
If you’re in London or planning a trip — this is unmissable. Tracey Emin at her most vulnerable, most powerful, and most alive.
This is the kind of show that reminds us why we still need art that bleeds, hurts, and ultimately heals. See you at Tate Modern.
