By Nathan Degenaars
May 1, 2026
Genesee Community College offers a variety of art classes, three of which are taught by Adjunct Instructor Lindsey Kotas, a GCC alumna who graduated in 2017 with a degree in fine arts, has been teaching at the college since fall 2024. She also studied photography and journalism abroad in Europe during her time as a student.
“From a young age, I knew I wanted to be a teacher. However, after four years of teaching in public schools, I knew I wanted more flexibility with my career and business,” Kotas said. She has been teaching art since 2019 and has worked with a wide range of students, from kindergarten through high school. “I really enjoyed my time teaching kindergarten through high school courses,” she said. “It was fun, challenging, and allowed me to be creative with many different age levels. I took getting to know my students through art very seriously.”
In addition to teaching at GCC, Kotas runs her own photography business. She began pursuing photography full time in 2023 after previously relying on word-of-mouth referrals. Now, she photographs about ten weddings each year, along with engagement, family, maternity, and newborn sessions. “I absolutely love the flexibility, the constant challenge of learning new things, and working with my clients,” she said.
During her time in college, Kotas studied abroad in Europe, where she visited London, Berlin, and Amsterdam. Among the highlights were Stonehenge, Big Ben, and the canals of Amsterdam. “If you ever get the chance to study abroad, I highly recommend it,” she said.
Kotas currently teaches Drawing (ART 110), Western Art History I, and Western Art II (ART 103 and ART 104). When discussing her favorite art history period, she pointed to Impressionism. “My favorite art history time-period is Impressionism,” Kotas said. “I love the subtle, aesthetically pleasing pieces, especially from Monet and Manet. They’ve always been some of my go-to artists when I visit the Albright Knox.”
The Albright-Knox Art Gallery is now known as the Buffalo AKG Art Museum, renamed in 2023 following a $65 million donation from Buffalo native and financier Jeffrey Gundlach. Édouard Manet and Claude Monet were influential 19th-century French painters associated with the Impressionist movement.
Balancing her work as both a full-time photographer and instructor, Kotas is optimistic about her future at GCC. She hopes to expand the courses she teaches and eventually incorporate her photography experience into a class of her own.
Kotas emphasized that art is a skill that can be developed over time. She said, “If you’re looking to take an arts class in the future, don’t be nervous. Being artistic is not a born skill; it’s a learned skill, and you’re here to learn.”