Mina Gallos
the artist of variety
Text and photographs by Ana VascoThe first time Felismina Silva touched clay was decisive for her career. At the age of 11, during a visit to the “A Galante” ceramics factory, she decided to leave school and start working. Despite her father's concerns, who viewed this work as something for the illiterate, Felismina began an early career at the “A Galante” factory, continued at the “Magrou” ceramics, and then moved to “Porcelanas Sandra,” founded by her current husband. In 2000, the crisis in the porcelain industry led her to briefly explore the clothing trade while maintaining small-scale ceramics production.
Art as metaphor
Felismina’s entry into the world of craftsmanship was marked by adopting an artistic name, Mina Gallos, and by deep symbolism. On the day she learned of her mother's cancer diagnosis, while crying, Mina decided to paint for the first time an iconic figure of Portuguese culture, often associated with justice and miracles: the Barcelos rooster (Galo de Barcelos). Craftsmanship emerged as a coping mechanism during a period of intense emotional pain, allowing her to express her emotions and desires concretely. Mina named her creation the “natalítico rooster” and, upon sharing a photo of the piece on social media, saw it gain immediate popularity and demand.
The production of the first Minho doll, “Deolinda,” named after her mother, represented the decisive moment in consolidating Mina’s identity as an artisan. This tribute demonstrated Mina’s ability to give tangible form to her love and cultural heritage. From 2015 onwards, the artisan never stopped. She dedicates herself to work in her studio every day, often for more than ten hours. From saints to devils, from playful reinterpretations of traditional roosters to sober decorative objects, from owls to frightening bizarre animals, from figures with large tongues surrounded by snakes to those with angelic faces, everything follows one rule in Mina Gallos' studio: no stylistic limitations. Mina celebrates diversity and the richness of details in all her creations, attracting a varied audience of all ages. “I offer various lines and sizes for clients. If they find this product expensive, I have two more sizes available. What I try to do is cater to all budgets, to all kinds of customers,” explains the artisan.
Refinement is prestige
Mina Gallos is a master of marketing as well as the meticulous finishing of porcelain. The delicacy and insight acquired over her career allow her to handle unusual orders that could be uniform with great creativity. One of her biggest challenges, and also her favourite work, was the “Ceia de Galos” (Rooster's Supper). This project required her to produce several roosters, each maintaining consistent characteristics and unique identities. In business, sensitivity is also her strong point. Mina frequently uses social media to present her pieces and directly engage with those who follow her work. She names the pieces and enjoys telling the stories behind each one. When she needs to make deliveries outside her region, she does not use postal services. She prefers to deliver each piece personally to ensure the integrity of her delicate works and to strengthen relationships with her customers, creating more intimate and meaningful connections.
Joy is freedom
Despite being very communicative and cheerful, Mina can genuinely become bored when facing the pressure to produce multiple units of the same item. “For my well-being, every day, whether in painting or manufacturing, I need to create something new to feel fulfilled,” she explains. This constant innovation is fundamental to her personal and professional satisfaction. She has turned down lucrative and large orders, fearing that repetition would compromise her artistic identity. Mina Gallos shapes a career marked by diversity and commitment to creative variety in each piece she creates.