Tracey Emin
Reference Image / Courtesy of Artist

Tracey Emin

British, b. 1963

Tracey Emin: Navigating the Intersection of Vulnerability and Strength

A Broker’s View: The "True Value" Beyond the Noise
Tracey Emin’s art has never been about pleasing the masses. From her rebellious years with the Young British Artists (YBAs) to her more recent, profound reflections on life and mortality, her work captures the most unadulterated emotional narratives of our time. As brokers, we observe that an Emin collector is not merely acquiring an object, but a piece of "unfiltered truth." This emotional uniqueness is the core engine behind her enduring resilience in the global auction market.

Market Insight & Collection Depth

  • Technical Integrity of Neon Works: Emin’s neons are iconic identifiers of her brand. Our brokerage service goes beyond aesthetics; we meticulously verify the original condition of electrical components and the completeness of provenance. In the secondary market, these technical details define the historical integrity and long-term value of the piece.

  • Market Positioning: Stability Over Speculation: Rather than viewing Emin’s work as a speculative tool, it should be seen as an "anchor point" in contemporary art history. With her recent major institutional presence at the Royal Academy, her academic status is solidified. For emerging collectors, we recommend focusing on her works on paper or small-scale embroideries, which capture the most intimate aspects of her artistic journey.

  • Authenticity & Risk Mitigation: Given the diverse nature of her oeuvre, informational asymmetry remains a significant risk for new collectors. Art Trader acts as your professional filter—we bypass market hype to bridge you only with works that feature clear exhibition histories and authoritative Certificates of Authenticity (COA).

The Art Trader Advantage
Collecting Tracey Emin is an emotional commitment. We do more than list artworks; we conduct a rigorous audit of the "life story" behind each piece. Through comparative market analysis, we assist you in securing iconic works within a fair valuation, ensuring your collection embodies the true spirit of contemporary art history.

Art Trader Analysis
High Auction Record £2,546,500 (My Bed, Christie's, 2014) / Recent painting highs: ~£2.3M (Like A Dog!, 2022)
Art Trader Rating Blue Chip / Established Contemporary
Major Collections
Tate (London), MoMA (New York), Centre Pompidou (Paris), Royal Academy of Arts (London), National Portrait Gallery (London)
Broker Services
  • Authenticity Guaranteed
  • Global Shipping & Insurance
Broker's Perspective
“Why Invest in Tracey Emin?
Tracey Emin is a "living legend" whose market has matured significantly from the shock tactics of the 90s to deep institutional acclaim. Her transition into a serious painter has been met with rave reviews and robust secondary market performance. Collectors value her unflinching authenticity; owning an Emin is owning a piece of a deeply personal narrative that speaks to the universal human experience. Her neon works remain highly liquid blue-chip assets, while her unique paintings are becoming increasingly scarce and desirable. With her 2024 Damehood and legacy-building projects in Margate, her place in art history is cemented.”
Art Trader Analysis Team
Art Trader Expertise

Collector Knowledge Base

Dame Tracey Emin is a British artist known for her confessional and autobiographical artwork. She was a prominent member of the Young British Artists (YBAs) and is famous for turning her personal life into public art.

Her most controversial and iconic work is My Bed (1998), an installation of her own unmade bed surrounded by personal detritus, which was nominated for the Turner Prize.

She works across various mediums including neon lighting, fabric appliqué, drawing, bronze sculpture, and increasingly, large-scale acrylic and oil painting.

Her neon works often feature handwritten text expressing candid thoughts on love, passion, and sorrow, acting as illuminated confessions.

Since surviving aggressive bladder cancer in 2020, Emin has focused heavily on painting. Her recent works are more existential, exploring the fragility of the human body, aging, and life force.

She lives and works in Margate, UK, where she has also launched an art school and studio complex for younger artists.

Empty collection

This collection does not contain any products.

Shop now