De Niro is an Icon: An Exhibit
by Karen Pecota

An exhibit most impressive during the 2024 Tribeca Festival was the special presentation to showcase the longstanding career of actor Robert De Niro, at the Tribeca Festival Hub at Spring Studios, June 6-16.

In preparation for the festival and upon reading about the variety of events taking place, I was looking forward to the exhibit honoring De Niro’s eighty-year career run. The day I attended the exhibit was shortly after it was set-up and because of my press credentials, I was allowed to get in earlier than the public, to roam the property at my leisure. It was quiet and peaceful. It felt as if I had entered a hallowed space. The only noise came from a room where excerpts of one of De Niro’s iconic films played on six large screens set in the round.

The whole exhibit was set up in several rooms. Every room had a large wall plaque describing De Niro’s career with a list of his filmography of a particular decade. The first room explained his humble beginnings, how his film business transpired, and incorporating fascinating details of his initial start toward stardom.

Off to the side of the first exhibit room was a small area that housed two paintings. De Niro’s parents were New York artists and as a tribute to his parents, De Niro showcased a work of art from each parent. In case you have not seen the documentary about his father’s artistic journey, this is a film not to be missed. The collection celebrating his parents’ lives, and their artistic talent is fascinating. It is no surprise that Robert De Niro became an artist of his own making—artistic talent runs in the family.

The Festival archives documented that the exhibit features over three hundred items primarily sourced from Robert De Niro’s personal archive housed at the Harry Ransom Center in Austin, Texas. I saw many artifacts from the collection of his film scripts, storyboards, costumes, letters from colleagues, film materials, and more. My favorite De Niro film performance was from his 1986 work in THE MISSION. Unfortunately, very little archival material appeared in the exhibit. But, this extraordinary account depicting forgiveness, redemption and a path toward personal enlightenment never gets old. A deeply moving storyline written by Robert Bolt, directed by Roland Joffé, with the soundtrack composed, orchestrated, conducted and produced by Ennio Morricone.