Tracey Emin at Palazzo Strozzi: “Sex and Solitude”
I took a day trip to Florence for one reason only: to see “Sex and Solitude”, the first major exhibition in Italy dedicated to Tracey Emin, one of the most powerful and vulnerable voices in contemporary art.
I had read about her, of course. But nothing prepared me for the emotional intensity of standing in front of her work. Stepping into the majestic, quiet halls of Palazzo Strozzi, with a restless heart and a sense of curiosity I couldn’t quite explain, felt like entering a space where emotions are not only displayed — they are demanded.
Emin does not aim to please. She exposes herself with brutal honesty and emotional nakedness. Body, desire, pain, solitude — these are not just themes in her work; they are visceral experiences, shouted even in whispers.
What struck me most is that you don’t have to be an art expert to feel the punch in the gut this exhibition delivers. It bypasses intellectual analysis and touches something deeply human. It’s raw, real, and unapologetically alive.
Her drawings, paintings, videos, and installations look you straight in the eyes and ask a deeply uncomfortable question:
How much are you willing to feel?
For me, the answer turned out to be: more than I expected.
A Necessary Reflection: “Time for Women” and the Shadow of the Brand
As part of the same visit, I also explored the adjacent exhibition, “Time for Women – Empowering Visions in 20 Years of the Max Mara Art Prize for Women.”
The title is promising, and the premise — amplifying the voices of women artists — is vital. However, the experience left me feeling somewhat disconnected. While the featured artists demonstrate undeniable talent and strong individual voices, the exhibition itself seemed to lack the depth and personal connection I had hoped for. Instead of allowing each artist’s unique expression to take center stage, the show felt somewhat distant, as though something was holding it back from truly resonating.
The focus on the broader context of the prize seemed to overshadow the powerful messages the artists were trying to convey. In the end, it felt more like a celebration of the institution than an immersive exploration of the art itself.
Palazzo Strozzi
“Sex and Solitude” 16 March 2025 - 20 July 2025
“Time for Women – Empowering Visions in 20 Years of the Max Mara Art Prize for Women.” 17 April 2025 - 31 August 2025
