He was born in Tullstorp, Malmö, Skåne County, Sweden the son of Nils and Ingrid (Nordfeldt) Olsson.

For several years he worked as an illustrator in Europe and North Africa for Harper's Magazine, where he also practiced etching.

[1] He adopted his mother's surname to avoid confusion with the maritime artist (Alfred) Julius Olsson, whose work was then becoming popular in Europe and America.

After his service in World War I, he went to Santa Fe, New Mexico upon the suggestion of William Penhallow Henderson and ended up moving there.

[6] Nordfeldt worked in diverse styles and media, including etchings and prints, portraiture, still lifes, and landscapes.