Meet Marty ‘Martii’ Herman.
Q: Tell us a little bit about what you do in Sedona.
A: I own and operate Exposures International Gallery of Fine Art here in Sedona.
The gallery opened back in the nineties, when at that time, art galleries were going out of
business every three months or so. I said, “Oh, that’s perfect for me. I know what to do, it’s a
turnaround”. At the time I didn’t know much about art galleries, but I knew a lot
about turnarounds. We’ve since become one of the largest and most unique galleries in the world.
Q: How long have you been in Sedona?
A: 30 years.
Q: What brought you here?
A: I thought I was a big shot when I retired at 35. I specialized in taking companies in danger of
collapse and turning them around. I worked in artificial intelligence, and a bunch of other
industries. After my early retirement, I took six years to sail around the world on a 60-foot yacht.
When I returned to Marina Del Rey, CA, I was questioning my next steps. So, I called the
Environmental Protection Agency and asked them where I should live. I told them I wanted
“clean air, warm weather, no crime, movie theaters, and restaurants”. A VP got on the phone and
suggested Sedona. I had never heard of Sedona at that time, but I drove down 179 as we all do,
and thought, “oh this is great, I think I’ll have to move here”.
Q: So, does Sedona hold magic for you? I mean, everyone says we’re like a magical vortex.
How do you feel about that?
A: You know, we have the ‘woo-woo’ people, the retirees, and the artists. They are all a part of
Sedona and I don’t judge that. I know Sedona chases some people away within a few years; they
run as fast as they can. So there must be something to this place. And I feel it.
Q: I’ve heard stories of people driving down 179, seeing the Red Rocks, and then crying
because it touches their hearts.
A: Unfortunately I am red-green colorblind, so that did not have the same effect on me.
Q: What keeps you motivated? What keeps you going?
A: Everything I’ve ever done, I would do for free. Including this business. I find joy in working
with artists and connecting them with clients. We built something that is not so much about the
art gallery as it is about the people behind it: the clients, the artists, and the staff. The gallery is
secondary and clients pick up on that. As a result, once you purchase from us, you probably
won’t go anywhere else. We’re an 80-85% repeat business.
Q: What’s your busiest time?

A: Spring and Fall are our busiest times. We slow down a little bit for the shorter seasons of
Summer and Winter.
Q: How do you pick your artists?
A: We select our art by focusing on our clients first, and then the artists. The pieces have to be
agreeable to the clients, not to the gallery or even to me. There must be no integrity issues with
the artist, and if selected, we form partnerships with them that last a lifetime. Our artists don’t
leave because our relationships with them are defined by doing as much as we can for one
another. We prioritize integrity and enjoy utilizing a simple but different selection process than
other galleries.
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met while in Sedona?
A: Terrie Frankel. She is a bright light, and in my eyes, a movie star in every way. She always
tries to do the right thing, she loves people, and she loves Sedona. It doesn’t get better than Terrie
Frankel.
Q: When friends come to visit and they haven’t been to Sedona, where do you take them?
What do you do? What’s fun?
A: I greet them at the gallery and then say “go have fun!”.
Q: Dead or alive, who would you like to have lunch or dinner with and why?
A: Almost anyone. I find people really fascinating, and after I meet them and share a meal with
them, I always feel better. So, almost anyone.
Q: What do you do for fun?
A: I’ve been busy lately, so my fun is actually running my business. I mentioned earlier that I
would do this for free, I just think it’s the best thing ever.
Q: What’s your favorite music?
A: I like everything. Before retiring at 35, I was part owner of an 18-store consumer electronics
stereo chain business in Los Angeles. I know a bit about music and I like it all.
Q: What would you like someone to know about you?
A: Nothing, they know enough. When I got to Sedona, it was a very small town, and in small
towns, there is a unique kind of jealousy that looms. I didn’t understand it at first, but I was
mentored by two elderly ladies who explained it to me. They gave me two insights: 1) that
you’re not really accepted for the first few years in a small town, and 2) that the kind of jealousy

I was feeling from others was not that other people wanted what I had, they didn’t, they just also
didn’t want me to have it. That was different from LA, but once I realized that, I relaxed.