Allyn Bromley Obituary

ALLYN BROMLEY Allyn Bromley-Baron, artist, teacher, mentor, and guiding light of Hawai'i's printmaking community, died peacefully at home on January 1, 2026, in Manoa, Oahu, at the age of 97. She was born June 4, 1928, in San Francisco, California. Allyn arrived in Honolulu in 1952 and immediately recognized it as the 'aina to which she belonged. Hawai'i became her home and the place where her artistic voice, teaching, and sense of purpose fully came into being. She lived a life shaped by creativity, curiosity, radiance, and a relentless drive to expose environmental degradation and destruction. As an artist and educator, Allyn spent her career crossing boundaries. Trained as a printmaker, she worked within a medium traditionally used to produce multiples yet consistently created singular, innovative works. Her practice expanded from two-dimensional prints to three-dimensional pieces and large-scale installations. In later years, she repurposed and transformed earlier works into new creations, continually redefining what printmaking could be. A lifelong learner, Allyn earned her BFA from the University of Hawai'i at Manoa in 1968 and her MFA in painting and printmaking from the University of Colorado, Boulder, in 1971. In 1983, she joined UH Manoa, where she chaired and expanded the Printmaking Department for nearly twenty years. Through her teaching, rigor, and generosity, she inspired generations of artists who continue to shape Hawai'i's art community. Allyn retired in 2000 as Professor Emeritus. A retrospective spanning four decades, Finding Latitude: The Work of Allyn Bromley, was presented at The Contemporary Museum in 2010. Her final solo exhibition, Allyn Bromley: At the Edge of Forever, opened at the Honolulu Museum of Art in late 2024, when she was ninety-six. Beyond her artistic accomplishments, Allyn built a life grounded in self-creation and empowerment. She was deeply loved for who she was: colorful, adventurous, non-judgmental, and profoundly compassionate. To younger generations, she was a beacon of wisdom, guiding them to find their paths while honoring their individuality. Allyn is survived by her husband, Brian Baron; her daughters Lauran Bromley, married to Marie ("Bunny") Bromley, and Bryann Bromley, married to Jim Nuzzo; and her grandchildren, Benjamin Bromley Nuzzo, Emma Kalea Bromley Nuzzo, and Spenser Bromley Nuzzo. A celebration of her life will be held this summer. Donations in Allyn's memory may be made to the Honolulu Museum of Art, directed to the Allyn Bromley Visiting Artist Endowment, supporting her legacy and her belief in nurturing young artists through engagement with established artists. Honolulu Museum of Art Attn: Advancement Office Allyn Bromley Visiting Artist Endowment, 900 S. Beretania Street, Honolulu, HI 96814; www.myhoma.org/give. Arrangements Provided By: Oahu Mortuary