Elgin Bokari Smith

Elgin Bokari T. Smith (aka L O Kari)
Artistic & Executive Director, Stomping Grounds Literary Arts Initiative

Elgin Bokari T. Smith is a multidisciplinary artist, educator, and social activist from St. Louis, Missouri. A graduate of Central Visual and Performing Arts High School, he honed his skills in visual arts, ceramics, and piano before earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Illustration and Sculpture from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2009.

Throughout his career, Elgin has collaborated with renowned artist Theaster Gates and institutions such as the Jane Addams Hull-House Museum and Northwestern University School of Law. His projects include producing the zine Youth Stories and illustrating Your Guide to the Juvenile Justice System, both focused on amplifying youth voices and addressing juvenile justice.

As an educator, Elgin has served as a teaching artist for organizations like Changing Worlds, Columbia College Chicago, Gary Comer Youth Center, Hyde Park Arts Center, and Kuumba Lynx. He is the former Program Director of Free Write Arts & Literacy and has led the activist and artist collective Elephant Rebellion as its President.

In addition to his work with Stomping Grounds Literary Arts Initiative, Elgin co-created Pocket Con, an annual comic book convention celebrating characters and creators of color, which continues to inspire and empower diverse communities.