Olaf Seltzer was born in Copenhagen, Denmark. When he was twelve, his exceptional artistic talent opened the doors of the Technical Institute of Copenhagen to him.

He moved to Great Falls, Montana after his father’s death. He became a railway and locomotive repairman for the Great Northern Railway, and met Charles Russell, who encouraged him to paint. Seltzer practiced his painting on the side, while working for the railroad. He started making artwork full time in 1921.

He visited New York in 1926 – 27, going to museums and galleries and meeting eastern buyers. His style shows some of Russell’s influence, but that can be said of almost every other western painter after Fredrick Remington.

In 1930 he was commissioned by Dr. Philip Cole to paint a series of miniatures on Montana history that all but cost him his eyesight. He returned to Montana to stay in 1936.