In Washing (1974), Mierle Laderman Ukeles scrubbed the sidewalk outside A.I.R. Gallery, declaring it “maintained as art.” When a building super brought her fresh rags and shook her hand, the work shifted from solo performance act to shared civic ritual - a turning point as Ukeles later stated.

Video excerpt of the documentary MAINTENANCE ARTIST. The film explores the groundbreaking artist Mierle Laderman Ukeles, the NYC Sanitation Department’s artist-in-residence since 1977, who radically redefined maintenance as art. Two upcoming screenings at SF Jewish Film Fest: 7.19 SF 7.25 Oakland

Thanks so much to everyone who came out to our screening in Washington DC at the National Gallery of Art! We are honored to be a part of the 2025 DC/DOX Film Festival. It was a pleasure to discuss the film with artist Mierle Laderman Ukeles, director Toby Perl Freilich, and Joanna Raczynska!

MAINTENANCE ARTIST is excited to screen at the Bentonville Film Festival @bfffestival this Thursday June 19, as we show in the documentary competition. See you soon in Bentonville! #MaintenanceArtist #MierleLadermanUkeles #BentonvilleFilmFestival #BFF2025

We are delighted to share that MAINTENANCE ARTIST was featured on @therollingtape.bsky.social! Interview link in our bio. #MaintenanceArtist #MierleLadermanUkeles #theRollingTape

We are delighted that MAINTENANCE ARTIST will screen in the documentary competition at the @bfffestival! Ticket link in our bio. . #Documentary #FilmFestival #BFF2025 #BentonvilleFilmFestival #SeeItBeIt #MaintenanceArtist #Art #Trash #Revolution #MierleLadermanUkeles 📸 by Robin Holland

We are excited to announce that MAINTENANCE ARTIST has been chosen for @dcdoxfest 2025! The film will screen at the incredible National Gallery of Art SUNDAY, JUNE 15th at 2pm. Reserve your FREE ticket today: dcdoxfest.com/films/mainte... . #DCDox2025 #MaintenanceArtist #MierleLadermanUkeles

We are thrilled that MAINTENANCE ARTIST will have its WORLD PREMIERE at the @Tribeca Festival! First screening June 8th, 5:30pm at Village East by Angelika. Q&A w/ artist Mierle Laderman Ukeles & filmmaker Toby Perl Freilich. Ticket link in bio. #Tribeca2025 #MaintenanceArtist #MierleLadermanUkeles

MAINTENANCE ARTIST is the first feature documentary about trailblazing public artist & revolutionary force in contemporary art, Ukeles. She pioneered the notion that routine maintenance – from changing diapers to picking up city trash to caring for the earth – could be acts of performance works.