The idea for the museum formed in 2000, drawing from Herford's status as a German center of furniture and home furnishing production.

[1] The name MARTa is an acronym for Möbel (German for furniture), ART (simply art in English), and Ambiente (ambience).

[2] The founding director of the museum was Jan Hoet, a noted Belgian curator.

The building was designed by Frank Gehry and built by Archimedes GmbH.

[3] Construction began in 2001,[4] and it officially opened to the public on May 7, 2005.