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London-born Zoë Ryan, chair of the Art Institute of Chicago and its John H. Bryan Curator of Architecture and Design, takes a forward-thinking approach to her exhibitions, giving them both experimental and experiential components and stimulating dialogue on how society relates to design and architecture. Ryan's career has taken her from London's Victoria & Albert Museum to New York's Museum of Modern Art to the Van Alen Institute, a nonprofit committed to improving the design of the public realm. Since she arrived at the Art Institute in 2006, she has built its contemporary design collection and spearheaded the acquisi- tion of more than 1,500 pieces. 111 S. Michigan Ave., 312-443-3600; artic.edu On design: I talk about design in very broad strokes. I've done exhibitions on graphic design, fashion, furniture, product design, and multimedia design…. I try to be as open-minded as possible, because the discipline is moving in really exciting directions. Dream exhibition: Kate Bush is touring again, and a show about her—about British music and design—would be really cool. Working in Chicago: In New York there is so much going on, and sometimes you feel like your project is one among so many others. In Chicago there are only a handful of museums taking on architecture and design, so the platform is much bigger and you feel like you're making a contribution. Civic pride: Chicago is proud of its architectural and design heritage. It's fantastic to work in a place where that's a given, without having to explain why architecture and design and the arts are important. Sweet tooth: I really miss English chocolate—I've got to have Cadbury's. Missing home: I miss pub culture—a lunch at the pub with family and friends. Humor: British humor is very silly and dry…. It can be very cynical, but there's lots of playfulness. THECURATOR ZOË RYAN, CHAIR AND JOHN H. BRYAN CURATOR OF ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN, THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO MICHIGANAVEMAG.COM 133