PRESS
“Forty-six years after she embedded with the Sanitation Department, Ms. Ukeles’s populist convictions, her belief in the dignity of labor, her wariness of feminist art committed narrowly to liberating women from the male gaze speak with a power to the tensions between class and gender politics roiling the country right now.”
- The New York Times
“One of the most anticipated films of the 2025 Tribeca Festival. Riveting and long overdue.”
- Filmmaker Magazine
“A visually explosive portrait of a one-of-a-kind creative.”
- NBC New York
“Maintenance Artist explores the life and art of Mierle Laderman Ukeles, whose iconic works challenged both classism and art world conventions.”
- Cultured
“A fascinating look at an undeterred feminist and advocate for the working class who constantly defied such easy labels.”
- Documentary Magazine
“‘Maintenance Artist’ Highlights Mierle Laderman Ukeles’ Radical, Caring Approach to Public Art.”
- Colossal
“Meet the ‘Maintenance Artist’ Who Has Made Lifelong Art Out of Labor.”
- Artnet
“Documentary chronicles decades of work by New York ‘maintenance artist’
Mierle Laderman Ukeles.”
- The Art Newspaper
“An extraordinary documentary that chronicles the challenges for Mierle Laderman Ukeles as the first-ever Artist-in-Residence at the New York City Department of Sanitation.”
“Through Ukele’s works, the definition of art is blurred and becomes a multidimensional instrument to examine human nature. From showcasing motherhood to sanitation workers, Ukeles transformed what art could be and who it could highlight.”
- The Torch
“A rich archive of landscapes fashioned out of waste and work.”
- The Arts Fuse
“Whether you’re a fan of experimental art, social practice, or simply intrigued by how creativity can infiltrate the bureaucratic machinery of city life, this documentary is a must-watch. It serves as both a tribute and a testament to how one woman’s practice continues to shape conversations around care, community, and the creative potential of labor.”
- StupidDOPE
“Interview With ‘Maintenance Artist’ Director Toby Perl Freilich”
- The Rolling Tape
“A powerful film about a truly exceptional woman.”
- Immersive Media