Tracey Emin (b.1963) is one of the most talked about artists in Britain today and arguably also one of the most controversial. Her diaristic works are explicit, unapologetic and raw, offering viewers unflinching explorations of how it is to live in a body and to experience passion, pain, and healing.

This introduction offers a candid look into the life and work of Emin. It explores the events and relationships that influenced her art, including her formative years in Margate, her artist peers, and the expressionist painters with whom she has identified across the generations. Bringing together a wide spectrum of her work, this book reveals an artist who confronts the subject of mortality – however wondrous, difficult or shameful – and ultimately celebrates the joy of living.