It is perhaps no surprise that Priestly’s art “focuses on times and events of social and cultural change, often set in an historical context, but with direct relevance to the present.” His art tells stories—of the marginalized, the forgotten, the heroes, and the villains—always with an eye toward justice. “What interests me is social justice and movements born of social upheaval,” he shares.   Priestly takes a journalistic approach to his painting, considering cultural history as the most critical aspect of his art. “The thing that interests me most is getting the facts of the story or subject as accurate as possible, in a visually striking or engaging way. It’s always all about the narrative.” Priestly’s rise to international fame—he counts Spike Lee among his collectors and has created artwork for three of Van Morrison’s albums—hasn’t changed his fundamental approach to his craft. His back catalog, stretching to 2001, bears testament to this consistency. “What I have learned is the confidence of not having to prove my techniques to myself or my audience in order to create a successful piece. I’ve nothing to prove other than my commitment to the subject. My abilities are stronger, simply through constant hard work,” says Priestly.