Otis College Alum Kohshin Finley on Returning to Campus to Teach and His Upcoming Solo Show

“I’ve come to a point in my life and career where I know exactly how I can add value to the students and community at Otis.”

Thirteen years after graduating from Otis College, Kohshin Finley (’12 BFA Communication Arts) has returned to teach in the Illustration program. This fall is also noteworthy for the artist as the first domestic solo exhibition of his paintings and ceramics will soon be on display. Still Life opens at Jeffrey Deitch on November 8 and runs through January 17, 2026. As the exhibition site notes, Still Life merges “painting, poetry, sculpture, and design into an immersive installation rooted in memory, material, and personal mythology.”

Finley recently shared what excites him about being in the classroom again and how he hopes to guide the next generation of artists and designers.

What motivated you to return to Otis to teach? 

Ever since graduating from Otis I’ve been fairly active in coming back to campus to attend events and to be a guest speaker and lecturer. Taking a role as an instructor has been something that has rumbled in the background for some time, and I’ve come to a point in my life and career where I know exactly how I can add value to the students and community at Otis. 

There is so much I’ve learned outside my time at Otis and I’m excited to share these lessons with students so that they can hopefully have a leg up as they embark on their journeys.

“I can see the students so clearly where they are at because I have been there too.”

What value do alumni bring in guiding the next generation of artists and designers?

One of the more valuable realities of being an alum is that I’ve been in their shoes. I’ve taken similar classes. I’ve walked the same path in more ways than one. Right away, we can acknowledge each other through that connection. I can see the students so clearly where they are at because I have been there too. Having been an art professional for as long as I have, I can accurately bridge the gap between where they are now and where they can potentially be in the future.

You’ve shared your inspirations as a Black-Mexican artist. How did you feel supported in this way at Otis and how has your experience evolved since then?

Ever since I was young I’ve always loved having a narrative within my work. Being a student in the Illustration program helped me hone both my technical skills and narrative skills simultaneously. Whether I was making a self-portrait or painting a portrait of a friend, it was always important to me to have a story within the artwork, to showcase a bit of humanity. 

Within the Illustration program I felt I was right where I needed to be, and I’m very grateful that I was supported by a great set of teachers who helped guide me down the path I wanted to venture towards. My ceramic work came into my life only recently, but the sentiments and storytelling abilities I learned during my time at Otis are very clearly present within the walls of my vessels.

Tell us about your upcoming exhibition at Jeffrey Deitch and the pieces you will be showing.

Right from the moment I graduated from Otis, I’ve wanted a hometown solo exhibition. After having exhibitions all over the world it feels only right to bring it all back home. This show is a celebration of Los Angeles and the community of people I am inspired by. This will be my first time showing my paintings and ceramics in one exhibition domestically. I’ll also be showing new wall-based works that highlight both the paintings and ceramics in one piece. I’m very excited to bring my city into the world I’ve been creating for the past couple years. 

What Otis faculty member/s made an impact on you, and is there anything you’d like to emulate from them in your new role?

I have fond memories and lessons from each of my Otis instructors, but a couple come to mind.

John White was my instructor for an Entrepreneur 101 elective and challenged me a great deal. From the start I told him I wanted my career to include both illustration and photography. He prompted me many times with “why?” and “how?” Over the course of our time together he supported me in creating clarity around these questions and the path I wanted to create. 

Christian Clayton only taught at Otis for one semester, but it was one of the more impactful semesters I had. As a fine artist, Clayton used his experience and knowledge of fine art and history to highlight many artists and genres I was not familiar with. As I am now a fine artist, the lessons and knowledge he shared helped create the foundation I used to propel me to where I am now. 

What advice do you have for current Otis students?

Make the art you want to see in the world. 

Finley’s work is held in the public collections of the Dallas Museum of Art, Hammer Museum, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and the Studio Museum in Harlem, among others. Visit KohshinFinley.com to learn more.

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