Lovers Grave is Tracey Emin's Powerful Comeback to New York

Tracey Emin has made a triumphant return to New York, unveiling a significant inaugural exhibition at White Cube's new gallery on 1002 Madison Avenue.

Known for her unfiltered honesty, Emin has openly shared her health struggles in recent years. Confronting an aggressive cancer diagnosis at the age of 56, she underwent transformative surgery. Her candidness about the challenges and gradual recovery serves not only as a personal outlet but also as a source of support for the many others grappling with similar issues.

Three years after her health ordeal, Emin showcases her resilience through Lovers Grave, an exhibition featuring 26 new paintings and works on paper, crafted in her London and Margate studios.

The inspiration behind Lovers Grave is drawn from archaeological burial sites, where excavated human remains are discovered entwined in a perpetual embrace. Emin is captivated by the idea of enduring love transcending into the afterlife, considering it a fundamental element of existence.

Within these works, love is interred, and yet, from this sepulchral setting, new life emerges—an idea Emin describes as a metaphorical phoenix rising from the ashes. This theme of resurrection holds special significance for Emin, given the profound impact her recent life-threatening illness had on both her physical well-being and artistic perspective.

The exhibition boasts massive 9ft acrylic paintings, featuring Emin's iconic scrawled lying figures set against a backdrop of dripping reds, pinks, blacks, and blues. These commanding pieces starkly contrast with smaller 20-centimetre, purple-hued ethereal paintings, embodying the liminal space of Emin's current existence.

But the announcements don’t end there. As of November 15th, Emin is set to be appointed to the British Museum's board of trustees, becoming the first female Royal Academician to do so. Moreover, in August, Emin acquired a dilapidated seafront building in her hometown of Margate, establishing an art school and an 18-month residency program last year.

What lies ahead for this prolific artist?

See Lovers Grave at White Cube New York, 4 November 2023 – 13 January 2024.