Istituto Marangoni Firenze is proud to share an exceptional moment of connection between art, education, and human experience: students from the Multimedia Arts and Arts Curating departments had the privilege of meeting Tracey Emin in person, on the occasion of her new exhibition Sex & Solitude, which opened on 16 March 2025 at Palazzo Strozzi.

This unique event is part of the prestigious annual partnership with Fondazione Palazzo Strozzi, in which Istituto Marangoni Firenze plays an active role as a member of the Foundation’s Partners Committee. A tangible commitment to supporting contemporary culture — and, above all, to offering students real opportunities to engage with leading figures in the international art scene.

Sitting among her own works, Tracey Emin welcomed the dialogue with students with warmth and sincerity, responding to a series of questions they had prepared in advance. Serving as a bridge between the artist and the new generation was Arturo Galansino, General Director of Fondazione Palazzo Strozzi and curator of the exhibition, who moderated the conversation and helped turn it into an authentic and deeply moving experience.

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Un post condiviso da Palazzo Strozzi (@palazzostrozzi)

Emin answered candidly, sharing intimate episodes from her personal and artistic journey — from vulnerability to desire, from solitude to resilience. One particularly powerful moment came when she recounted her experience of undergoing an abortion at a young age, an event that marked her painting practice and which is revisited in one of the exhibition’s most intense rooms — the very space where she forced herself to start painting again, transforming pain and loss into art and rebirth.

Among the questions raised during the encounter, one in particular prompted a profound reflection on the very meaning of the exhibition: what does it mean for an artist like her to exhibit in Florence, in a Renaissance space such as Palazzo Strozzi, in a city historically far removed from her artistic imagination?

"You're trying to make me cry!" Emin replied. "This isn’t just a show in a museum space — it’s in one of the most important historical places for art in the universe. You can feel it vibrating, you can feel the spirits, the history. I feel privileged, I feel excited. This exhibition will change my life, I promise you."

A moment that left a lasting impression on the students, allowing them to grasp what it truly means to make art in a place that adds depth, responsibility, and resonance to every creative gesture.

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Un post condiviso da Istituto Marangoni Firenze (@istitutomarangoni_firenze)

This initiative is one of the many enriching experiences offered by Istituto Marangoni Firenze through its validated programmes in Multimedia Arts and Curating. The collaboration with Fondazione Palazzo Strozzi allows students not only to engage with internationally renowned artists, but also to access internships, projects, and hands-on activities directly connected to the worlds of art production and curatorship.

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Un post condiviso da Istituto Marangoni Firenze (@istitutomarangoni_firenze)

The meeting with Tracey Emin was a transformative experience — a rare and powerful moment of connection between art, life, and the future. An opportunity to learn how to tell one’s own story, with authenticity and courage, in the beating heart of art history.

Watch the full interview video → HERE