Palazzo Strozzi welcomes a groundbreaking exhibition dedicated to one of the most provocative and influential contemporary artists of our time: Tracey Emin. Sex and Solitude. This marks the first major institutional showcase in Italy of the British artist’s deeply personal and emotionally charged work.
Curated by Arturo Galansino, Director General of Fondazione Palazzo Strozzi, the exhibition invites visitors to delve into Emin’s artistic universe through over 60 works, spanning painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, film, embroidery, and neon installations.
At the heart of the exhibition lie the intertwined themes of sex and solitude, two central forces that shape Emin’s creative expression. The works on display, drawn from different periods of her career, trace an intimate and often raw narrative of the human experience, touching on desire, vulnerability, and personal history. Some of the pieces are being exhibited in Italy for the first time, alongside new creations produced specifically for this occasion.
Emin is renowned for her unfiltered, confessional approach to art, transforming deeply personal experiences into universal reflections on the body and emotion. Her expressive, often figurative style places her in a dialogue with the great artistic traditions of the past, creating a compelling contrast with the Renaissance masterpieces that define Florence’s cultural landscape.
About the Artist
Born in 1963 in Croydon, London, and raised in the coastal town of Margate, Tracey Emin has built a career that defies conventions. Her art, spanning diverse media from paintings and textiles to neon signs and bronze sculptures, often draws from her personal life, tackling themes such as love, trauma, identity, and illness. She first gained widespread attention in 1999 with her Turner Prize-nominated work My Bed, exhibited at Tate Gallery, London—a raw and unfiltered depiction of personal turmoil. Since then, her influence has only grown: in 2007, she represented the UK at the Venice Biennale, and in 2011, she became one of the first female Professors at the Royal Academy of Arts. Most recently, she has dedicated herself to fostering new talent through her Tracey Karima Emin (TKE) Studios and Tracey Emin Artist Residency (TEAR) in Margate. In recognition of her impact on the art world, Emin was awarded a Damehood in 2024.
Visiting the Exhibition
Visitors should note that the exhibition contains artworks depicting themes of sexuality and the body. It is recommended that children under 14 be accompanied by an adult.
This exhibition offers a rare opportunity to experience Tracey Emin’s fearless and emotionally charged work within the historic walls of Palazzo Strozzi—a striking encounter between contemporary artistic expression and Florence’s Renaissance heritage.