Manifesto for Maintenance Art

The Manifesto for Maintenance Art, written by artist Mierle Laderman Ukeles in 1969, challenges traditional art by emphasizing the importance of maintenance work—like cleaning, caregiving, and everyday chores—that keeps society functioning. Ukeles advocates recognizing this often-overlooked labor as a form of creative and valuable art. The manifesto calls for honoring these tasks as central to cultural and social life, blurring the line between art and daily work. It encourages us to see maintenance activities not as mundane, but as essential, ongoing contributions that sustain communities and environments.