--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I didn't have an exhibition anywhere…" description: "\"I didn't have an exhibition anywhere until I was 30. My first exhibition was at 30, and then for my first show in America, I'm 50. It's kind of all rig..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/892/tracey-emin-6953_america_i-didn-t-have-an-exhibition-anywhere-unt_427657.jpg" --- # I didn't have an exhibition anywhere until I was 30. My… ![“I didn't have an exhibition anywhere until I was 30. My first exhibition was at 30, and then for my first show in America, I'm 50. It's kind of all right: I'm just a slow burner.” quote by Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/892/tracey-emin-6953_america_i-didn-t-have-an-exhibition-anywhere-unt_427657.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/892/tracey-emin-6953_america_i-didn-t-have-an-exhibition-anywhere-unt_427657.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/892/tracey-emin-6953_america_i-didn-t-have-an-exhibition-anywhere-unt_427657.jpg) > “I didn't have an exhibition anywhere until I was 30. My first exhibition was at 30, and then for my first show in America, I'm 50. It's kind of all right: I'm just a slow burner.” [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She acknowledges a late start in her art career, embracing a gradual, steady rise rather than early fame. **In simple terms:** Late start, steady progress. Key Takeaway Embrace your own timeline. Themes art career patience Mood reflective determined Type personal inspirational When to use this quote - gallery debut - first US show - career planning Key Concepts creative development personal growth Questions to Reflect On - How does patience shape your creative output? - What does “slow burner” mean to you? A Different Perspective Success can be delayed but still meaningful. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Burner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/burner/) [Exhibition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exhibition/) ## Related quotes > [To say I wasn't such a hit with the ladies would be a very kind way of putting it. I was a slow burner,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-richardson/to-say-i-wasn-t-such-a-hit-with-the-ladies-would-be-a-very-kind-way/) [Jon Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-richardson/) > [I thought it would be my one and only exhibition, so I decided to call it My Major Retrospective](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/i-thought-it-would-be-my-one-and-only-exhibition-so-i-decided-to-call/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) > [Too often women put themselves on the back burner to take care of everything and everyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phaedra-parks/too-often-women-put-themselves-on-the-back-burner-to-take-care-of/) [Phaedra Parks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phaedra-parks/) > [I feel like, big city or small town, you can relate to following your parents' footsteps or putting your own dreams on the back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kacey-musgraves/i-feel-like-big-city-or-small-town-you-can-relate-to-following-your/) [Kacey Musgraves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kacey-musgraves/) > [I can talk to my dad like he's my manager, and put 'Dad' on the back burner. We've been doing it since I was 13.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-simpson/i-can-talk-to-my-dad-like-he-s-my-manager-and-put-dad-on-the-back/) [Jessica Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-simpson/) > [Empire Square production finishes in about a month's time, so at the moment, right now, I'm just completely full on Empire Square. There's no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-rowntree/empire-square-production-finishes-in-about-a-month-s-time-so-at-the/) [Dave Rowntree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-rowntree/) > [“My Euphoria: When our lips touch, fingers intertwine Our tongues dancing to the rhythm of our breathing I roll in and out of consciousness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mudflower/my-euphoria-when-our-lips-touch-fingers-intertwine-our-tongues/) Mudflower > [I was quite naughty at school. I was always in the back of the class messing about with the Bunsen burner rather than paying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-sturgess/i-was-quite-naughty-at-school-i-was-always-in-the-back-of-the-class/) [Jim Sturgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-sturgess/) > [“Often when things are put on the 'back burner' the gas goes out.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-fellick/often-when-things-are-put-on-the-back-burner-the-gas-goes-out/) Steve Fellick > [I got married very young and put my career on the back burner for the most part because that's what you did in those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-learned/i-got-married-very-young-and-put-my-career-on-the-back-burner-for-the/) [Michael Learned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-learned/) > [There is never a time in a company's history when cost control can be relegated to the back burner, but for a startup company,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-dennis/there-is-never-a-time-in-a-company-s-history-when-cost-control-can-be/) [Felix Dennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-dennis/) > [Am always ready with the burner like am always ready to cook beef](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nana-kwame-agyei-manuh/am-always-ready-with-the-burner-like-am-always-ready-to-cook-beef/) [Nana Kwame Agyei Manuh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nana-kwame-agyei-manuh/) > [During most of the Bush administration, human rights and democracy in Egypt were on the front burner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-abrams/during-most-of-the-bush-administration-human-rights-and-democracy-in/) [Elliott Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-abrams/) > [My stand-up has a lot of performance in it, and I loved doing it so much that, after years, I put the idea of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristela-alonzo/my-stand-up-has-a-lot-of-performance-in-it-and-i-loved-doing-it-so/) [Cristela Alonzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristela-alonzo/) > [Religion has for too long been placed on the back burner of history, when it may be one of the driving forces in history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-brat/religion-has-for-too-long-been-placed-on-the-back-burner-of-history/) [Dave Brat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-brat/) ## More by Tracey Emin > [Someone else who liked what I did might turn around and say, "She's reworking and rethinking everything. She could just be making blankets now,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/someone-else-who-liked-what-i-did-might-turn-around-and-say-she-s/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) > [I know people went to laugh at my bed and to jeer at it. Still, at least they actually went to see it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/i-know-people-went-to-laugh-at-my-bed-and-to-jeer-at-it-still-at/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) > [People don't remember. Revenge is sweet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/people-don-t-remember-revenge-is-sweet/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) > [I'm a terrible cook, but if I could cook, I would see that in art as well, it's how much creative energy you put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/i-m-a-terrible-cook-but-if-i-could-cook-i-would-see-that-in-art-as/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) > [For me, being an artist with a high profile is a good thing for art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/for-me-being-an-artist-with-a-high-profile-is-a-good-thing-for-art/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) > [When you don't have children you have to define and make your own purpose, and make your own reason for being here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/when-you-don-t-have-children-you-have-to-define-and-make-your-own/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) > [I really love animals. My cat is my little soul mate. He's not just a cat, he's my friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/i-really-love-animals-my-cat-is-my-little-soul-mate-he-s-not-just-a/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) > [It wasn't so much destroying my dancing, it was destroying me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/it-wasn-t-so-much-destroying-my-dancing-it-was-destroying-me/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) > [The reason why I'm popular as an artist in this country is because it suits the psyche of the nation at this time. Ten…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/the-reason-why-i-m-popular-as-an-artist-in-this-country-is-because-it/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) > [Most people don't do something seminal. I've done it twice: with my tent and my bed. Picasso did it with Cubism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/most-people-don-t-do-something-seminal-i-ve-done-it-twice-with-my/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) > [I found that life has to be edited to continue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/i-found-that-life-has-to-be-edited-to-continue/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) > [“DON'T BE AFRAID TO TAKE THE PAST HEAD ON.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/don-t-be-afraid-to-take-the-past-head-on/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) > [“I don’t believe in love, but I believe in you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/i-don-t-believe-in-love-but-i-believe-in-you/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) > [When it comes to words I have a uniqueness that I find almost impossible in art – and it's my words that actually make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/when-it-comes-to-words-i-have-a-uniqueness-that-i-find-almost/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) > [“He pulled my skirt up. I began to worry. Everyone knew he had broken in girls before and I didn't want it to happen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/he-pulled-my-skirt-up-i-began-to-worry-everyone-knew-he-had-broken-in/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) [Explore all 96 Tracey Emin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) ## More America quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [You live overseas, you see these exotic places and you want to know about them. But, weirdly, it also made me homesick for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-jennings/you-live-overseas-you-see-these-exotic-places-and-you-want-to-know/) [Ken Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-jennings/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. 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