Created in 2022 in collaboration with Counter Editions and Greenpeace, ‘Curled Up’ by Tracey Emin is an intimate autobiography of her recovery from cancer treatment following her diagnosis in 2020. The subject, depicted on a hospital bed, conveys the artist’s frustration and pain, forcing her to curl up in discomfort. 

The intimate diaristic print was created by Emin in her Margate studio following her recovery from cancer. The print reflects on the pain and frustration that come with battling the disease. Throughout her battle with cancer, Emin continued to make art and used her work to process her experiences.

Tracey Emin

Tracey Emin is a renowned British artist known for her provocative and deeply personal works. In the 1990s, Emin emerged as one of the leading figures in the Young British Artists (YBAs) movement, which challenged traditional notions of art and propelled British contemporary art onto the global stage. Emin's art often explores themes of love, sexuality, identity, and personal history. Raw and emotionally charged, her pieces often draw from her own experiences, inviting viewers to confront their own vulnerabilities and intimate moments. Her confessional, narcissistic and self-deprecatory approach earned Emin a nomination for the Turner Prize in 1999.