Which British artist's largest-ever survey exhibition, featuring over 90 works including 'My Bed,' opened at Tate Modern on February 27, 2026?

The artist whose largest-ever survey exhibition, "A Second Life," opened at Tate Modern on February 27, 2026, featuring over 90 works including her iconic piece 'My Bed,' is Tracey Emin. This landmark exhibition traces forty years of Emin's career, showcasing both celebrated and previously unseen works. Emin is renowned for her unapologetic self-expression and her use of personal experiences to explore themes of love, trauma, and healing through various mediums such as painting, video, textiles, neon, sculpture, and installation.

'My Bed,' created in 1998, is one of Emin's most famous and controversial works. It consists of her own unmade bed, surrounded by personal detritus like empty vodka bottles, cigarette packs, and stained underwear, reflecting a period of profound depression following a difficult relationship. The artwork was shortlisted for the Turner Prize in 1999 and generated significant media attention, challenging conventional notions of what constitutes art and sparking widespread debate. Despite its notoriety, 'My Bed' has become a seminal piece in contemporary art, recognized for its raw honesty and powerful depiction of vulnerability.

The "A Second Life" exhibition at Tate Modern aims to broaden the understanding of Emin's work, celebrating her confessional approach and demonstrating her lifelong commitment to painting, with recent works culminating her practice of channeling life into art. The title itself references Emin's reflection on her life, including her experience with cancer and surgery, making the exhibition a personal turning point and a celebration of living. This comprehensive survey allows visitors to experience the evolution of an artist who has consistently pushed boundaries and used her own narrative to connect with universal human experiences.