Mierle Laderman Ukeles

Mierle Laderman Ukeles is an American artist known for her pioneering work in conceptual art and her focus on the value of maintenance and labor, particularly in public services. She is best known for her collaboration with sanitation workers in New York City, exemplified in her project "Touch Sanitation," where she emphasized the importance of their work through performance and public art. Ukeles challenges traditional notions of art by highlighting everyday tasks and the often-overlooked contributions of workers, promoting the idea that maintenance work is valuable and integral to society. Her work invites reflection on the relationships between art, labor, and community.