She studied painting and graphic design at Texas Women's University in Denton, TX for her BFA and then completed her MFA at the University of Oklhoma in Norman in 2004. Mikesell's work has been continually exhibited throughout the United States in both solo and group shows.

Mikesell's work explores the universal human experience. Focusing on medling human features with anthropomorphic figures, her paintings hone in on the connectedness between human ideas and instinct. Irony, contradiction, humor and tragedy, are themes throughout her work. Along with the strong subject-matter, Mikesell's paintings are impeccable in their presentation. By wiping, scraping and sanding layers of paint, she builds up a surface that then given a pristine varnish, resulting in a contrasting yet uniform aesthetic.

Mikesell's work can be found internationally in many private and corporate collections, and has had a presence in many national and international art fairs including, Miami Art Basel, The Dallas Art Fair, Red Dot London, Art Santa Fe, and the Affordable Art Fair.