In Maudell Sleet’s Magic Garden, Romare Bearden draws from his memories of Charlotte, North Carolina to honor Maudell Sleet—a neighbor renowned for her abundant and colorful garden. Through collage, Bearden transforms this intimate childhood memory into a richly textured vision of vitality and joy. The composition bursts with vibrant plant life and human figures, blending reality and imagination in a way that reflects both personal nostalgia and cultural affirmation. As with much of his work, Bearden uses the garden as a metaphor for nurturing, growth, and the generational beauty of Black domestic life.