Overview
Tracey Emin is an internationally renowned British artist and one of the most prominent members of the Young British Artists, or YBAs. Born on July 3, 1963 in Croydon, England, Emin grew up in a working-class family and was the only girl of three children. Emin attended Margate School and was interested in art from a young age. She was particularly inspired by the works of Egon Schiele and Gustav Klimt and often drew the people she encountered in her day-to-day life. After graduating, Emin attended Maidstone College of Art and completed her Bachelor of Arts degree in 1985. Emin's early career saw her explore a variety of media, including drawing, painting, photography, installation, and video. She was an early adopter of installation art and created a number of controversial works, such as her 1995 piece “Everyone I Have Ever Slept With 1963-1995”, which featured a tent embroidered with the names of everyone she had ever slept with. In 1999, Emin was nominated for the Turner Prize, the UK's highest accolade for visual artists. She was the first artist to be nominated for a solo show, rather than for a specific work. She was also the second woman to be nominated for the award, after sculptor Anish Kapoor. Emin has also made a number of films and written several books, including her autobiography, Strangeland. In addition, she has curated numerous exhibitions and is a member of the Royal Academy of Arts. She has become one of the most influential figures on the contemporary art scene and has been awarded numerous honours, including an Order of the British Empire in 2013. Today, Emin continues to produce artwork and exhibit in galleries around the world. She is also heavily involved in the British arts world and is an advocate for women in the arts. Emin's work continues to challenge and inspire viewers and her impact on the art world will be felt for many years to come.
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