Born in Schwerte, Germany, Rosemarie Trockel studied at the Werkkunstschule in Cologne and later at the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf. She emerged as a significant figure in the international art scene during the 1980s, gaining prominence for her conceptual approach to diverse media, including sculpture, video, and installation.

Trockel is best known for her signature knitting pictures, which utilize machine-knitted wool to explore themes of domesticity, femininity, and the intersection of craft and fine art. Her practice often subverts expectations by applying industrial production methods to traditionally manual, gendered labor.

Currently, Trockel maintains a distinguished career as a professor at the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf. Her work continues to be featured in major international exhibitions and institutional collections, reflecting her enduring influence on contemporary conceptual art.