Maintenance Artist

Mierle Laderman Ukeles, the first artist-in-residence for New York City's Sanitation Department, stands at the intersection of art and waste management in a narrative that traces her pioneering journey through public art. Her career unfolds as a unique exploration of maintenance as an artistic practice, challenging conventional boundaries by integrating the mundane realities of sanitation work into the realm of creative expression. Through her innovative projects, Ukeles redefines the role of art in public spaces, highlighting the often-overlooked labor that sustains urban life and weaving it into a broader commentary on society and environment.