Maintenance Artist' Spotlights the First Artist-in-Resident for the NYC Department of Sanitation
Maintenance Artist' Spotlights the First Artist-in-Resident for the NYC Department of Sanitation  
Podcast: All Of It with Alison Stewart
Published On: Tue Apr 21 2026
Description: The new documentary "Maintenance Artist" tells the story of public artist Mierle Laderman Ukeles, the first New York City Sanitation Department artist-in-residence, a title she still holds today. Ukeles used her position in the 1970s to make public statements about essential workers and about feminism. Director Toby Perl Freilich discusses the film, and how Ukeles has been using her position in recent years, opening at the IFC Center on April 22. Photo by Robin Holland Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.