Mark Twain
Mark Twain (1835 – 1910) — Portrait bronze bust by artist Zenos Frudakis. Samuel L. Clemens, born on November 30, 1835, in Florida, Missouri, wrote under the pen name Mark Twain. He was an American novelist, humorist, lecturer, entrepreneur, riverboat pilot, and inventor, best known for his classics The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and its sequel, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.
The Mark Twain sculpture is displayed at the Lotus Club and is shown here with sculptor Zenos Frudakis and Emmy and Tony Award-winning actor Hal Halbrook, who received critical acclaim for his one-man show Mark Twin Tonight! In another photo, Zenos is shown with filmmaker Ken Burns, who created an illuminating documentary about the life of Samuel Clemens. Both Holbrook Burns were honored with the Mark Twain half-round bust award at the Lotus Club.
⭐America 250 — Mark Twain: Humor, Satire, and the American Spirit
Mark Twain, an American writer, humorist, entrepreneur, and lecturer, is widely regarded as the “Father of American Literature.” His work established a distinctly American literary voice rooted in common, colloquial language and infused with satire and humor as tools for incisive social critique—particularly on issues of race and hypocrisy. This authentic, plainspoken style has become a hallmark of modern American writing.
Twain is best known for his novels The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876) and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1884), the latter often hailed as the “Great American Novel.” Characters such as Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn have become iconic in American culture, symbolizing youthful rebellion, adventure, and moral growth. Twain’s aphorisms and observations continue to be widely quoted today, and his legacy is celebrated through countless awards, institutions, and landmarks—affirming his status as America’s first true literary “rock star.”
Size: Over-life size
Media: Bronze
Location: Lotos Club, New York City
Collection: Lotos Club, New York City
Comment on Sculpture
Mark Twain, Portrait Bust, Mark Twain Awards, NY
“It was a great thrill to uncover your magnificent sculpture of Mark Twain. It is not only a startling likeness of Mr. Clemens, it captures the fierceness behind those eyes and the indomitable set of the jaw which underscores his work and his life.”