Marilyn Weeks will pack up four decades of paintings and walk out of 1214 Burlingame Ave. in September 2026, displaced by a change in the building's ownership that ends one of downtown Burlingame's longest-running creative tenancies.

Weeks has worked in a converted dentist's office above Copenhagen Bakery & Cafe since the mid-1980s, turning the quiet, airy space into a studio filled with colorful abstract paintings, many depicting the avenue outside her window. She told the San Mateo Daily Journal in a July 21 profile that the ownership change means she must vacate.

"The scene of Burlingame Avenue has been with me like all my life, and when I would come here 40 years ago, all the stores were closed on Sunday, and there was nobody on the street," Weeks said. "I think it's a beautiful street. I think it's positive. It's part of my work."

The identity of the new building owner has not been publicly disclosed, and no permits or plans for the second-floor space have surfaced in city filings.

From drawings to abstracts

When Weeks first moved into the studio, her pieces were simpler, mostly drawings. Over 40 years she watched everyday shops give way to upscale brands and the street fill with visitors and restaurant-goers on weekends. Her art evolved in parallel, shifting toward bold abstracts that capture the energy she observed from above.

Before retiring in 2004, Weeks taught art at several local schools, including Burlingame Intermediate School. After retirement, she devoted herself full-time to the studio, connecting with other artists and galleries on the avenue, including the Andre Norris Gallery and the Studio Shop.

She described the financial reality bluntly: managing as an artist is very difficult and requires help. Having the dedicated workspace, she said, made her feel more creative over time.

Looking ahead

Weeks said she hopes her departure draws attention to other artists working quietly in downtown spaces, describing a community of creators "tucked in here and there" whom most residents would never know about.

Copenhagen Bakery & Cafe, which occupies the ground floor at 1216 Burlingame Ave., has operated at the location since 1977. The bakery is a separate business from the building's ownership.

No next tenant or renovation plans for the upstairs studio have been identified in public records. Weeks plans to have her paintings out by September 2026.