Tracey Emin CBE RA (b.1963) is known for her deeply personal and autobiographical approach to contemporary art. Rising to prominence in the late 1980s as part of the Young British Artists movement, Emin established herself as a fearless and distinctive voice within the British art world. Alongside peers such as Damien Hirst, Cornelia Parker and Sarah Lucas, she challenged conventional ideas of what art could be. Over the past three decades, she has cemented her position as one of the most recognisable artists of her generation.
Although best known for installations such as Everyone I Have Ever Slept With and My Bed, printmaking has remained a vital part of Emin’s practice. It is a medium that allows for immediacy and intimacy, lending itself naturally to the confessional nature of her work. Her print output spans woodcuts, monoprints, etchings and screenprints, each exploring the emotional and psychological terrain that defines her visual language.
LOT 208: TRACEY EMIN CBE RA (BRITISH B.1963) Untitled
Estimate £800 - £1,200
Our 3 October 2023 Prints and Multiples auction included a rare group of early works on paper by Tracey Emin, dating from 1983 to 1992 (Lots 208–221). These works were gifted to a fellow artist and close friend, who studied with Emin at Maidstone College of Art and the Royal College of Art.
This highly personal group includes woodcuts, monotypes, an illustrated birthday card and a copy of Emin’s first published book, Six Turkish Tales. Many pieces function as letters or notes, offering an intimate view into her formative years as an artist. Some works are signed with early iterations of her name, including Traci Emin and Miss T. K. Emin, marking the emergence of her artistic identity.
LOT 218: TRACEY EMIN CBE RA (BRITISH B.1963) Happy Birthday
Estimate £1,200 - £1,800
Emin’s early woodcuts, created during her time at Maidstone, demonstrate a strong influence from the German and Austrian Expressionists. The prints often depict intertwined couples and contorted figures, recalling the emotional force of artists such as Oskar Kokoschka, Käthe Kollwitz and Ernst Ludwig Kirchner. These scenes capture both tenderness and discomfort, offering insight into relationships, identity and vulnerability.
Monoprints also feature prominently in Emin’s wider body of work. These one-off prints are often quickly produced, giving them a raw and instinctive quality. A Drunken Boat (Lot 215), for instance, captures a bobbing boat on the Margate shoreline, a recurring location in Emin’s art. Through these spontaneous marks, she channels fleeting thoughts and sensations, drawing the viewer into her world.
This etching reflects Emin’s strength in distilling complex emotions into a single image. Two figures sit side by side, but their body language speaks of emotional distance. The title, Closed, suggests the quiet breakdown of connection. As in much of her work, what is left unsaid is as important as what is shown.
LOT 222: TRACEY EMIN CBE RA (BRITISH B.1963)Closed
Estimate £1,000 - £2,000
Emin began working with neon in the early 1990s. Traditionally used for signage, neon became, in Emin’s hands, a deeply personal and expressive medium. Using her own handwriting, she conveys emotional truths with disarming directness. These pieces act as modern-day declarations, bringing light to feelings that are often private or painful.
Lots 223, 225 and 227 are each hand signed editions of 500 and are classic examples of Emin’s work with neon.
Lot 223: TRACEY EMIN CBE RA (BRITISH B.1963) But Yea
Estimate £500 - £700
LOT 225:TRACEY EMIN CBE RA (BRITISH B.1963) My Favourite Little Bird
Estimate £1,000 - £1,500
LOT 227: TRACEY EMIN RA (BRITISH B.1963) The Kiss Was Beautiful
Estimate £1,000 - £1,500
We are proud to consistently offer works by Tracey Emin in our Prints and Multiples sales. This particular group of early pieces provides a rare insight into the early development of one of Britain’s most recognisable contemporary artists, whose work continues to resonate with audiences worldwide.
Get in touch with the Prints and Multiples Department at Chiswick Auctions or submit an online valuation.
TRACEY EMIN CBE RA (BRITISH B.1963) Self Portrait as a Small Bird