The new public art piece by artists Leo Rucker and Joey Allen creates a lasting public tribute to the shared history of Reynolds American and Winston-Salem
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C., Sept. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Reynolds American organization (Reynolds American) celebrated the new Reynolds Boulevard Mural in Winston-Salem, North Carolina at a viewing yesterday evening. The event brought together the mural artists, elected officials, community leaders, neighboring businesses, and Reynolds American employees and leaders to celebrate the project.
The new public mural is located on the exterior, north-facing wall of the Reynolds Central Distribution Center (CDC) building at 1133 Reynolds Boulevard within Whitaker Park, the site of a former R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company manufacturing facility. The mural was commissioned in early 2025 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, founded in 1875. Painted by local artists Leo Rucker and Joey Allen, its completion represents another milestone in the ongoing revitalization of the Reynolds Boulevard corridor.
According to research conducted by the artists, the mural is believed to be the largest mural on the East Coast by wall area square footage. The artwork spans a nearly 33,000-square-foot columned wall and required approximately 50,000 square feet of paint coverage. Created using roughly 9,000 spray paint cans, the mural took nearly 2,000 hours over 15 months to complete.
Beginning with R.J. Reynolds’ arrival in Winston-Salem by horse, moving through depictions of agriculture, manufacturing, research and innovation, and concluding with the city’s modern revitalization, the mural tells the story of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company and Reynolds American alongside the growth and evolution of Winston-Salem. The artwork illustrates how the organization and community have developed together over more than a century.
“This mural began with a concept inspired by historic stories, photographs, and milestone moments from R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, Whitaker Park, and Winston-Salem,” said Leo Rucker, local artist and co-creator of the Reynolds Boulevard Mural. “It was an honor to collaborate with my colleague, Joey Allen, to transform that history and a largely industrial area into something meaningful and colorful that can be shared with the community.”
The Reynolds Boulevard corridor has long been associated with innovation. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company established its Research & Development organization, now known as Bowman Gray Technical Center (BGTC), in 1911, and the Reynolds CDC building was constructed in Whitaker Park in 1953 to support that work. For decades, employees in the area have advanced science, technology and manufacturing capabilities, contributing both to Reynolds American’s smokeless transformation journey and Winston-Salem’s reputation as the City of Arts and Innovation. Today, more than 400 scientists work at BGTC.
“Around us, we see Whitaker Park evolving. We see new investment, new partnerships, and new opportunities emerging,” said Kara Calderon, senior director of community engagement and sustainability. “This community continues to reinvent itself while remembering the people and places that helped build it, and this mural reflects that spirit.”
Photos and video footage are available for download in our media gallery linked here.
About Reynolds American Inc. Reynolds American Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of the global BAT Group and the U.S. parent company of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company, Inc., American Snuff Company, LLC, R.J. Reynolds Vapor Company, and Modoral Brands Inc. References to “Reynolds American,” “the group,” “the company,” “the organization,” “we,” “us,” and “our” are simply for convenience and are not intended to imply or suggest that the subsidiaries’ businesses are operated other than as separate, distinct businesses. To learn more about Reynolds American Inc. and its operating companies, please visit www.reynoldsamerican.com.
View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/reynolds-american-unveils-50-000-square-foot-mural-on-reynolds-boulevard-302874309.html
SOURCE Reynolds American Inc.
