Dame Tracey Emin is one of the most important contemporary artists of her generation. She was catapulted into the public eye in the 1990s with iconic works like her Turner Prize nominated My Bed, which sparked fierce critical and public debate, challenging what art could be.

Emin’s highly confessional and deeply personal work epitomised an historic moment in British culture and global art history. Through painting, video, textiles, neons, writing, sculpture, and installation, Emin continues to challenge boundaries using the female body - her body - as a powerful tool to explore passion, pain, and healing. Dame Tracey Emin-a radical national treasure.

This evening with lecturer Cindy Polemis examines the themes that run throughout the celebrated artist’s work as exhibited in Tracey Emin | A Second Life, Tate Modern (27 Feb 2026 – 31 Aug 2026).

About the Speaker

Cindy Polemis is an art historian and an independent lecturer. A graduate of Oxford University and Birkbeck College, she spent many years as a radio producer and presenter for BBC World Service. Since 2016 she has been a lecturer and official art guide at Tate Modern and Tate Britain. She is also an accredited lecturer for The Arts Society and other independent organisations.