The purpose of this paper is to improve the understanding of how users of online virtual worlds learn and/or relearn ‘culture’ through the use of visual components. The goal of this research is to investigate whether culturally and historically authentic imagery is necessary for users to understand the virtual world; how virtual world residents form and reform their virtual culture; and whether the visual culture in the virtual world is imported from the real world, colonized by any dominate culture, or assimilated into a new culture. The main research question is: Is the authenticity of cultural imagery important to virtual world residents? This study uses the mixed method of concurrent triangulation strategy. I used random sampling and a survey to gather quantitative results and I collected qualitative data from interviews exploring the experiences of virtual world residents with visual culture. This paper discusses the research findings in three categories: cultural interpretation and stereotypes; authenticity of imagery; and culture appropriation. This paper also identifies implications for art education and suggests directions for future research.