Joel Moore, an artist from Sydney’s Sutherland Shire better known by his childhood nickname “Mulga,” has joined the ranks of celebrated creatives licensed by UNO, the world’s best-selling card game. His new collaboration with Mattel, the Nasdaq-listed company that owns UNO, marks the first time an Australian artist has been featured in the game’s global Artiste series.
Moore, who transitioned from a career as a paraplanner at AMP to a full-time artist, is recognized for creating more than 400 murals depicting vibrant, larrikin Australiana, including iconic native animals like koalas, kangaroos, and the urban “bin chicken.” His signature style, originally rendered with Posca paint markers, now adorns a special edition UNO deck set for release this week in both the United States and Australia.
The deck features a series of modifications to classic game elements, including the replacement of UNO’s traditional red, blue, green, and yellow suits with “sky blue,” “sunshine yellow,” “bush green,” and “zinc pink.” It also introduces two new gameplay cards inspired by Australian slang: the “yeah nah” and “nah yeah” cards. The “yeah nah” card, illustrated with a thumbs-down crocodile, cancels any penalty cards played before it, while the “nah yeah” card, showing two grinning wombats, can counter a “yeah nah.” Moore anticipates that the unique linguistic twist may initially confuse international players but offers a playful cultural introduction.
The partnership with Mattel, initiated around Easter 2025, reflects the company’s ongoing efforts to refresh and localize UNO amid a shifting market landscape. Despite the growth of digital games—including over 100 million mobile downloads from the Google Play Store alone—physical UNO card sales continue to rise in Australia. Paul Faulkner, managing director of Mattel Asia Pacific, emphasized the enduring appeal of face-to-face play and the social dynamics intrinsic to the game’s popularity.
In addition to product innovation, Mattel is promoting community engagement through sponsoring “UNO social club” events in pubs and hosting the UNO World Championship in Los Angeles this month, aiming to offer alternatives to remote gaming experiences.
Moore’s journey to becoming a licensed UNO artist underscores his evolving career from economics graduate and paraplanner to a recognized figure in Australian street art. After gaining viral attention with a 2012 mural titled Griswald the Good Vibe Gorilla on Bondi Beach’s sea wall, he left his corporate job by 2014 to pursue art full time. His bright, character-driven works reflect his lifestyle passions, including surfing and nature, which he says resonate well with younger audiences.
Joining only eight other global artists—such as Takashi Murakami and Jean-Michel Basquiat—in the Artiste series, Moore’s collaboration with UNO marks a significant milestone in broadening the game’s artistic and cultural scope.