Remembering Georgetown’s Pottery Guru Jill Hinckley (1936-2025)
By • March 24, 2025 0 128
Jill Hinckley of Georgetown’s Hinckley Pottery died at home on March 9 at the age of 88. Hinckley was born on September 2 in New York City (the Bronx to be exact) to William Hinckley and Margaret Cummings. Hinckley’s father was an activist, teacher and later in life, a therapist and her mother was “much more than a housewife,” according to her Hinckley’s Legacy.com obituary.
In her 20s, Hinckley opened art galleries in the West Village and Upper East Side, before opening a gallery in D.C. 60 years ago, Hinckley discovered pottery and never looked back. It became a lifelong passion for her and her thousands of students, known affectionately as “weirdos” (The Georgetowner wrote a story on Hinckley Pottery in 2017 called “Jill Hinckley Pottery: Weird as You Want to Be”).
Hinckley’s students followed her as her studio changed locations over the years, ending up at 3132 Blues Alley NW.
Hinckley left her mark on Georgetown and the larger community. Our article from 2017 says: “She and Suzie have built a community,” says Sarah Waybright, a student-turned-employee of Hinckley’s. “She makes you feel like you can be a better person, but you’re also fine as you are.”
Hinckley is survived by her wife Susan Weber, two daughters, a granddaughter and three nieces.
A celebration of Hinckley’s life will be held at Hinckley Pottery Studio on May 4.
