Exploration of Tracey Emin's emotional spectrum, encompassing both resilience and vulnerability, at Palazzo Strozzi
Tracey Emin's latest exhibition, "Sex and Solitude", graced the halls of Palazzo Strozzi in Florence, Italy, in 2025. The site-specific work, known for its brilliant blue illumination of the Renaissance architecture, was a captivating representation of Emin's personality and work.
The exhibition was a thematic journey through Emin's career, showcasing diverse artistic expressions from painting to sculpture, installation, video, and various techniques and materials like embroidery, bronze, or neon. One of the highlights was the monumental bronze piece, "I Followed You To The End" (2024), a female figure sculpture that stood prominently in the show.
"Sex and Solitude" was more than just an exhibition; it was a personal exploration of Emin's life and experiences. According to the artist, sex has always been complicated for her, but today, love is more important. This sentiment was reflected in the artistic universe of the exhibition, where desire and love intertwined with pain, sacrifice, and fragility.
Emin values solitude, considering it one of the most intense and wonderful feelings. This is evident in her work, where the fragile and carnal body is a recurring theme, often suspended between desire and suffering, love and loss. One of the most historic installations by Emin, "Exorcism of the last painting I ever made" (1996), was reconstructed for the exhibition and displayed on one of the Noble Floor's rooms.
The rights for "Sex and Solitude" are reserved, DACS 2025. The exhibition was photographed by Ela Bialkowska of OKNO Studio, capturing the raw and emotional essence of Emin's work.
Tracey Emin is a contemporary artist renowned for her direct and raw approach to translating personal experiences. Her work invites viewers to delve into her innermost feelings, making "Sex and Solitude" an intimate and moving experience for all who attended.
The exhibition at Palazzo Strozzi included both old and new works from Emin's oeuvre, giving shape to her lived experiences. The exhibition spaces included the Renaissance courtyard and the Noble Floor's rooms, creating a unique and immersive environment for the artworks.
"Sex and Solitude" was more than just an exhibition; it was a testament to Emin's life, her experiences, and her art. It was a journey through her emotions, a celebration of love and solitude, and a reminder of the power of art to evoke and express the human condition.
