our story

meet matt tervo

Matt Tervo (Tervo) is an artist, educator, and cultural consultant based in Brisbane. As the founder and Director of The Tervo Company Pty. Ltd., he bridges the worlds of street art and professional practice, working with councils, developers, and community organisations to deliver projects that are authentic, meaningful, and world-class.

Before founding The Tervo Company, Tervo spent several years as a high school teacher, where he witnessed firsthand the power of creativity to build confidence, connection, and pride in young people. That experience continues to shape his work today, influencing his belief that art should exist for everyone, not locked away in galleries, but out in the open, inspiring and uplifting communities.

Tervo's creative philosophy is grounded in authenticity. As an artist himself and a finalist in the Brisbane Portrait Prize, he brings a lived understanding of the artistic process to every project. His approach focuses on pairing the right artists with the right opportunities, creating outcomes that could only be achieved through genuine collaboration between artist and client.

Appointed as Brisbane City Council’s first-ever Street Art Consultant, Tervo has been instrumental in establishing the city’s Legal Street Art Walls, a groundbreaking initiative that celebrates street art as a legitimate and essential part of Brisbane’s cultural fabric. Through this work, he has helped foster a thriving community of artists while influencing policy, placemaking, and urban design across the city.

Tervo has collaborated with Brisbane City Council, Stockwell, JGL Properties, and organisations such as the Brisbane Youth Detention Centre and Youth Advocacy Centre, ensuring that his company remains deeply connected to both industry and community. His work has been featured in The Brisbane Times, Sunrise, and ABC Radio, reflecting his growing role as a voice for the evolution of Australian street art and its place in shaping our cities.