Merikanto studied art and design at the Finnish Academy of Fine Arts in Helsinki from 1968 to 1971.[2][3] From 1974 until 1979 Merikanto was employed as a teacher at the academy, where he molded plastic designs.
In most of Merikanto's works, he used stone as the material. He was a key name in Finnish modernist art. His three-dimensional works address issues such as the relationship between weight and weightlessness.
In 2009, Merikanto was awarded the Pro Finlandia Medal of the Order of the Lion of Finland.[4]
Some of Merikanto's notable works include:
- Teräspursi (1981–1982)
- Barcarola (1991)
- Sisääntulo (1994)
- Lintukoto (1999)
- Kaukomieli (2000), a memorial sculpture for Otto Manninen, placed in Anni Swan Park in central Kangasniemi, Finland[5]
- Con amore (2000)
Merikanto died on 25 July 2010 in Helsinki.[2] He is buried within the Hietaniemi Cemetery beside his father and his grandfather, Oskar Merikanto.
