The aim of this study was to create further understanding of what conditions are offered for the development of the visual art subject and its relevance to society by reviewing and describing two visual arts teachers approach to their assignment, how students relate to the subject and what other conditions effect the visual art subject. The theoretical framework is based on a knowledge-theoretical and socio-cultural perspective as well as curriculum theory. Data was produced through interviews and observation in two classes of upper secondary school. Using discourse analysis, the results showed a complex relation of discourse and interdiscursive aspects in the didactic practice of visual art as well as traces of former knowledge conceptions. The analysis also shows that despite the art teachers’ stated intentions, both classroom practices tended to pause and act as a free space for self-fulfilling goals. Resistances and lack of understanding was also identified towards the visual art subject. The study concludes that the dominating discourses reveal what kind of knowledge constructions that are valued and that there’s a need of developing the collective body of knowledge about the visual art subject as well as resources for formal continuing development.