The purpose of this qualitative study is to make a contribution of knowledge about students’ visual cultures and what possibilities and limitations they might pose in visual art education. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15-year-old students, which resulted in empirical data consisting of transcriptions of two interviews concerning the visual cultures of ice hockey and horseback riding. The data was analyzed through discourse analysis using theories on gender, power, discipline and norms. The results show that the masculinity constructed through ice hockey as a visual culture places great value on being a masculine man. While the locker room provides a space for the male team members to show affection through physical closeness, it is important to carry oneself and act in a way that is not feminine. The constructions of femininity through horseback riding as visual culture draw upon images from broader perceptions of horseback riding, such as depictions of ‘the horse girl’ in popular culture. The construction of femininity can be understood through characteristics like responsibility, caretaking and feelings. While it may be challenging to work with students’ heavily gendered visual cultures, incorporating them in visual art education might make the subject more relevant and meaningful to students and let them take on new roles in the classroom.