Savannah Knoop (born 1981) is a New York City-based artist and
filmmaker. From 1999 to 2005 Knoop performed the public role of
literary persona JT Leroy.Knoop grew up in the San Francisco Bay area,
born to artist and acupuncturist Sharon Hennessey, and documentary
filmmaker and cinematographer, John Knoop. Knoop was the youngest of
five half siblings. From 1999 to 2001, Knoop attended City College of
San Francisco.In 1999 writer Laura Albert, partner of Knoop's brother
at the time, asked Knoop to play her fictional persona JT LeRoy. Knoop
embodied JT LeRoy in all public appearances for the next six years.
After the literary scandal was unveiled in the NY Times in 2005, Seven
Stories Press published Knoop's memoir in 2007 titled Girl Boy Girl:
How I Became JT LeRoy cataloguing their experiences of playing their
sister in law's writing persona and avatar JT LeRoy. With director
Justin Kelly, they adapted it into the feature-length film JT Leroy,
starring Kristen Stewart, Laura Dern, Jim Sturgess, and Diane Kruger,
released by Universal Pictures in April 2019.In 2001, Knoop founded
the clothing line Tinc with Parachati Pattajotti, creative partner,
architect and restaurateur. In 2006, Knoop's sister Hennessey Knoop
joined as head of sales for their company. Tinc ran until 2009 and
sold to stores such as Modern Appealing Clothing and Takashimaya.
After folding Tinc, Knoop moved to New York. They finished their
bachelor's degree in the fall of 2013 at CUNYBA under the mentorship
of Vito Acconci. In 2014 they went on to their MFA at Virginia
Commonwealth University: Sculpture + Extended Media. Movement is an
essential part of Knoop's practice. Knoop has studied dance and
martial arts for over twenty years. Knoop studies Brazilian jiu-jitsu
under the tutelage of Marcelo Garcia in New York.
filmmaker. From 1999 to 2005 Knoop performed the public role of
literary persona JT Leroy.Knoop grew up in the San Francisco Bay area,
born to artist and acupuncturist Sharon Hennessey, and documentary
filmmaker and cinematographer, John Knoop. Knoop was the youngest of
five half siblings. From 1999 to 2001, Knoop attended City College of
San Francisco.In 1999 writer Laura Albert, partner of Knoop's brother
at the time, asked Knoop to play her fictional persona JT LeRoy. Knoop
embodied JT LeRoy in all public appearances for the next six years.
After the literary scandal was unveiled in the NY Times in 2005, Seven
Stories Press published Knoop's memoir in 2007 titled Girl Boy Girl:
How I Became JT LeRoy cataloguing their experiences of playing their
sister in law's writing persona and avatar JT LeRoy. With director
Justin Kelly, they adapted it into the feature-length film JT Leroy,
starring Kristen Stewart, Laura Dern, Jim Sturgess, and Diane Kruger,
released by Universal Pictures in April 2019.In 2001, Knoop founded
the clothing line Tinc with Parachati Pattajotti, creative partner,
architect and restaurateur. In 2006, Knoop's sister Hennessey Knoop
joined as head of sales for their company. Tinc ran until 2009 and
sold to stores such as Modern Appealing Clothing and Takashimaya.
After folding Tinc, Knoop moved to New York. They finished their
bachelor's degree in the fall of 2013 at CUNYBA under the mentorship
of Vito Acconci. In 2014 they went on to their MFA at Virginia
Commonwealth University: Sculpture + Extended Media. Movement is an
essential part of Knoop's practice. Knoop has studied dance and
martial arts for over twenty years. Knoop studies Brazilian jiu-jitsu
under the tutelage of Marcelo Garcia in New York.
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