Emin still lives in the borough, as do Gilbert and George.

In the 1990s, artists Tracey Emin and Sarah Lucas ran a small but influential space called The Shop on Bethnal Green Road. Operating between 1993 and 1994, it blurred the line between art gallery and pop-up store, selling quirky, provocative items that challenged the boundaries of contemporary art. While both artists were key figures in the Young British Artists (YBA) movement, it was Tracey Emin who went on to create the iconic Turner Prize entry My Bed, exhibited at the Tate Gallery in 1999. The installation, consisting of her unmade bed surrounded by personal items like empty bottles and underwear, sparked national debate about what constitutes art - and solidified Emin’s status as one of Britain’s most provocative and important modern artists.

Knowledge

Love Tower Hamlets