From 1927 to 1930, he studied decorative painting at the State Industrial Art School in Tallinn[3] under the artists August Jansen [et] and Roman Nyman [et].
From 1931 to 1935, his studies were interrupted due to a lack of money, and the future artist worked as a painter, land surveyor, farm worker, and finally photographer.
A study trip to Paris, which was considered a requirement for graduates of the Pallas Art School, was canceled due to the outbreak of the Second World War.
[2][3] Artists that studied under him include Malle Leis, Kristiina Kaasik [et], Tiit Pääsuke, Gennadi Leontjev, Tõnis Soop, and Saskia Kasemaa [et].
During the Khrushchev Thaw, he developed his characteristic geometrizing image interpretation, with combinations of broken tones and a connection with the rural milieu that was changing under the influence of the socio-modernist architecture of that era, the laconic decor of consumer art objects, and technical progress.
The ceramic wall panel of the Central Library of the Estonian Academy of Sciences was created from numerous pieces.
Mikko's design was judged to be the best in the competition held in 1961 and, after two years of work, a cardboard drawing of the panel (3.0 m × 4.5 m) was completed, which was then executed in ceramic at the artist's request.