A native of Sweden, Lotave studied alongside fellow artist, Birger Sandzén, under Richard Bergh and Anders Zorn at the Art Students League in Stockholm. He continued his studies in Paris prior to immigrating to the United States where he instructed at Bethany College in Lindsborg, Kansas.
In 1899, Lotave moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado. There he earned a living with mural and portrait commissions as well as illustration work with publications including the Mountain Sunshine Magazine and The Gazette.
He is recognized for his subjects of the American Southwest and worked as a painter of American Indians for the Smithsonian Institute. Lotave also received a commission from the Archaeological Museum in Santa Fe for two frescoes: "Cliff Dwelling" and "Pueblo Indian."
