While Priebe’s works can be categorized as fantasist, he described his work as “tempered realism…realism filtered through the imagination”.

He was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Graduated from the Layton School of Art  and the Art Institute of Chicago graduating in 1938. 

He received the Prix de Rome in 1941. Due to the war was unable to use the grant to study in Europe.

Priebe was one of the leading members  of the American fantasy or surrealist school of painting.  together with Gertrude Abercrombie, John Wild and Sylvia Fein who he was aesthetically, geographically and personally very close to. 

He first became interested in African American culture when, as an art student in Chicago, he taught a class in a settlement house largely attended by African Americans. 

His black figures, like the one seen here he recalled later, were not intended as portraits, but were taken from his memories of people he saw in the settlement house. 

The black and white photograph of the artist seated with arms  crossed holding a cigarette in a day dream atmosphere similar to the picture "Having a Smoke in Blue" illustrates the way Priebe identifies with his subject adapting them to his own self imaginary and surrealist world.

Throughout his creative life Priebe was known for his love of black culture. He was a longtime friend of such jazz greats as Billie Holiday, Pearl Bailey and Dizzy Gillespie.

 In November 1975 he had one of his eyes surgically removed. After that his health began to decline. He died at his home in Milwaukee on July 5, 1976, he was 62 years old.