Curled Up

About This Work

Tracey Emin's print "Curled Up," created in 2022, is a compelling continuation of the artist’s exploration of personal narrative and vulnerability. Through this print, Emin evokes the intimate and candid nature that has characterized much of her work since the early days of her career. Known for her evocative exploration of self and the human condition, Emin’s artworks frequently utilize personal iconography and autobiographical elements, often delving into themes of memory, identity, and personal trauma. Emin’s approach to art has always been deeply personal, as evidenced by her early exhibition "My Major Retrospective" at White Cube in the mid-1990s. In that show, she laid bare her life through artifacts, stitching family names and intimate notes into the fabric of her quilts and resurfacing personal memorabilia. This penchant for introspection continued with works like "Everyone I Have Ever Slept With 1963–1995," which mapped her interpersonal connections and life history onto a tent—turning deeply private narratives into public discourse. Her candidness in these conceptual works established Emin as a pivotal figure in the Young British Artists (YBA) movement, underlined by her later landmark piece "My Bed," which made everyday objects from her life part of art history. "Curled Up" should be seen within this context of Emin’s broader practice, which often blurs the line between life and art. Though the specific content of "Curled Up" remains undisclosed in the fact sheet, the naming invokes a gesture or posture that is inherently meditative or introspective, in keeping with Emin’s style. Her prints, like her other works, frequently explore themes of isolation, comfort, and reflection, possibly suggesting a fetal or defensive position, resonant of her ongoing narrative of personal solace and struggle. This particular print allows viewers an insight into Emin’s multifaceted practice, where the vulnerability of the human experience is succinctly encapsulated. Whether through the raw intensity of depicted forms or the evocative use of line that characterizes much of her reproductive work, Emin’s art persistently challenges the viewer to contemplate the intimate and often unspoken aspects of life. In its presence at Zebra One Gallery, "Curled Up" aligns seamlessly with the gallery's commitment to showcasing thought-provoking and emotionally resonant contemporary fine art.

About the Artist

In 1993, in the former London borough of Bethnal Green, Emin and fellow artist Lucas opened a store where they sold their own handmade items. One of Emin’s earliest exhibitions took place in 1993–94 at the influential White Cube gallery on Duke Street (1993–2002). The show, ironically titled “My Ma...

Zebra One Gallery

Contemporary Art • Hampstead, London

Established 1976 • 50 years of excellence in contemporary art • Professional authentication and provenance research