CHICAGO, IL.- Martha Thorne, the Art Institute of Chicago's longtime associate curator of architecture, has been hired to work as executive director of the Pritzker Architecture Prize. Martha Thorne has been working at the Art Institute for the last decade.

Martha Thorne stated, "This is one of the most interesting and exciting jobs that can ever befall a person because you have the opportunity to participate in a truly international community of architects. It's an exciting new time for the Art Institute. There are new directions being taken, and it's really important to allow as much space for the new folks to develop their ideas. It's time for new blood."

Hyatt Foundation President Thomas J. Pritzker said, "She (Thorne) joins the Pritzker Prize with a broad understanding of international contemporary architecture, which is important to our jury that must select each year's laureate from a list of nominees from around the world. There have been 29 laureates chosen since the prize was founded in 1979, only eight of which have been from the U.S."