Created in 2022 in collaboration with Counter Editions, ‘Just Waiting’ by Tracey Emin is an intimate autobiography of her recovery from cancer treatment following her diagnosis in 2020. The subject, depicted in a coffin, conveys the artist’s frustration and pain, longing for the freedom of everyday life with her face obscured by shades of blue.

The extraordinary, intimate exploration of the self was created by Emin in her Margate studio following her recovery from cancer. The print’s title reflects the uncertainty and fear that come with battling a disease, and the aftermath on the artist’s psyche. 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.