Objectives The purpose of this study was to examine the educational experience of elementary students through visual culture art education using popular culture and contemporary art. Methods A case study was applied as the study method to derive the educational meaning experienced by the case subject in the field. Fifth-grade elementary school students were selected as case subjects to implement three sessions of visual culture art education programs. Results The results are as follows. First, the students showed different and extremely complex preferences for popular culture images. Second, the students embraced contemporary art better by using popular culture and cultivated an active attitude toward art appreciation. Third, the students developed the ability to connect popular culture and contemporary art in their lives. Fourth, the students' scope of art recognition expanded. Conclusions This study shows that utilizing contemporary art and popular culture in education can lead to learning associated with the actual lives of learners.