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

“‘Maintenance Artist’ Highlights Mierle Laderman Ukeles’ Radical, Caring Approach to Public Art.”
- Colossal

“Documentary chronicles decades of work by New York ‘maintenance artist’
Mierle Laderman Ukeles.”
- The Art Newspaper

“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

“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