Geny Seixas
sea stories from Ovar in silver filigree
Text and photographs by Ana VascoEugénia Seixas was born by the sea in Ovar, a land of robust men and strong women, figures forged by the demands of Arte Xávega, an ancient fishing practice where heavy nets are pulled by hand and by animals on the local beaches. From a young age, she deviated from the path set by her parents, who wanted her to become a teacher, like her two sisters. Rebellious as the waves, she aspired to be more: a strong wind, a storm, or pure art. Without knowing it, Eugénia was already a fisherwoman of dreams and inspirations, capable of manoeuvring complex nets full of life and desires, so heavy that even the old oxen of Ovar’s beaches couldn’t drag them. Professionally, she chose to be an artist of author jewellery, shaping pieces with the delicate forms of Portuguese filigree that reflect the depths of her experiences and personal restlessness.
The first silver shells
Eugénia Seixas’ artistic journey began in fashion design, where she quickly stood out as a designer, thanks to her keen eye for details and accessories. Her passion for a distinct aesthetic and the possibility of creating small, more expressive pieces led her to the field of jewellery design, where she found the freedom to fully express her creativity. Deeply influenced by the work of Bruno da Rocha, one of Portugal’s great jewellery designers, Eugénia fell in love with author jewellery, a domain that often involves organic and fluid techniques, as well as deep narratives that move those who see them, much like her own experiences and the essence of the sea. Eugénia immersed herself in the complex and delicate world of filigree through a course at the Professional Training Centre for Jewellery and Watchmaking (Cindor), offered by filigree master Conceição Neves. Dedicated to mastering techniques that few jewellery designers dare to develop, with a rare poetic sensitivity, she adopted the artistic name “Geny Seixas” and began incorporating filigree into contemporary pieces that merge her cultural heritage with a unique artistic personality.
The Filigree of Ovar
Passionate about this new form of expression, in 2022, she participated for the first time in a major fair, the FIL in Lisbon, and was impressed by the positive reception. The perception of her artistic potential led her to open her own jewellery studio in the centre of Ovar. Thus, this land of maritime arts, tiled houses, lively Carnival, and renowned sponge cakes, added another tradition: the production of certified filigree.
The story collections
Geny Seixas' art is captivating and often inspired by the ocean. Ideas usually take shape in sketches made in various notebooks, which are then reproduced with silver wires to create collections. “Everything has a story,” the artist confides. Her favourite pieces are from the Sea Collection, featuring earrings, a ring, and a necklace, but also noteworthy are the Azulejos Collection, inspired especially by the façade of the São Luís Sponge Cake House, the Ovar Carnival Collection, and the Eco-Sustainable Collection made with fish skin.
When Geny asked the fishmongers in the city, who worked on the streets or at the market, to give her the fish skins that would be discarded, the initial reaction was scepticism. “They asked me: ‘What do you want the rubbish for?’ and only a few agreed,” the artisan recalls. After cleaning and treating the skins naturally, without chemicals, at home, Geny created an innovative and eco-friendly collection combined with darkened filigree. Geny Seixas' creativity also leaps from the sketches in her notebooks to materialise in watercolours that illustrate and accompany her jewellery, as well as in the personalised boxes in which the pieces are delivered to customers. Everything is precious in this artisan’s path, who dreams of being eternally remembered for her serenity, bravery, and greatness—the same attributes that enchant her in the ocean that inspires her.
