Bianca van der Hulst-Sijsenaar’s tiny masterpieces, full of wit and familiar details from everyday life, offer a fresh perspective on works in the museum’s collection. Each visitor receives a magnifying glass to explore the artworks and read the brochure, appropriately printed in the smallest possible size. “Because of the small scale, you have to look very closely, discovering a lot more as a result,” explains museum director Sietske van Zanten.

Miniature artist Bianca van der Hulst-Sijsenaar (1982) spent 18 months creating these tiny artworks for the LAM museum: “It’s the biggest challenge I’ve ever worked on.” She created nine pieces inspired by works in the LAM museum’s collection. She adds, “Some hint at how the original artworks were made or offer a personal interpretation of their meaning. Others show what might happen next.” Bianca looked to artists such as Itamar Gilboa, Oto Gillen, Lisette de Greeuw, Martijntje Cornelia, Rob Pruitt, Navid Nuur and Daniel Spoerri.

The tiny 3D still lifes look incredibly real, not only because of Bianca’s perfect rendering of colours and textures but also because she recreates the familiar imperfections of everyday life—from a patch of mould on one of the mandarins to a crust of bread left behind after breakfast.

Bianca van der Hulst-Sijsenaar works at a 1:12 scale, meaning every object she creates is exactly 12 times smaller than its real-life counterpart.

Bianca originally worked as a window dresser and set out to build a doll’s house for her youngest daughter’s fourth birthday. She enjoyed making miniatures so much that she never stopped. Wherever Bianca goes, she sees things she would like to reproduce in miniature. After winning a national contest on the SBS6 television programme Klein maar Fijn in 2023, she was named the best miniature artist in the Netherlands.

Bianca taught herself the craft of miniature building. Each new creation requires close observation, careful thinking, searching for the right materials and techniques and precise calculations. Everything she makes must fit her 1:12 scale.

With its international art collection dedicated to food and consumption, the LAM museum on the Keukenhof Estate in Lisse offers fresh perspectives on everyday objects. Its Viewing Coaches are unique and bring every work of art to life by offering visitors personalised viewing tips.
“We’re thrilled to be working with Bianca van der Hulst-Sijsenaar,” says museum director Sietske van Zanten. “Her tiny masterpieces invite you to focus your gaze and look at the museum’s collection even more closely. Her eye for detail and sense of realism and wit will be a real treat for our visitors, giving them a whole new perspective on our artworks.”