diff --git a/app/components/elements/Dialog.module.css b/app/components/elements/Dialog.module.css
index 37c2037fd..4f7c35854 100644
--- a/app/components/elements/Dialog.module.css
+++ b/app/components/elements/Dialog.module.css
@@ -18,12 +18,12 @@
 	margin: auto;
 	outline: none;
 	animation: zoom-in-95 300ms ease-out;
+}
 
-	&::backdrop {
-		background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.25);
-		backdrop-filter: blur(10px);
-		animation: fade-in 300ms ease-out;
-	}
+.blurredBackdrop::backdrop {
+	background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.25);
+	backdrop-filter: blur(10px);
+	animation: fade-in 300ms ease-out;
 }
 
 @keyframes fade-in {
diff --git a/app/components/elements/Dialog.tsx b/app/components/elements/Dialog.tsx
index bfc69b631..5f6df54a7 100644
--- a/app/components/elements/Dialog.tsx
+++ b/app/components/elements/Dialog.tsx
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@ import styles from "./Dialog.module.css";
 interface DialogElementProps {
 	id?: string;
 	className?: string;
+	/** The standard dialog backdrop: dimmed and blurred page behind. */
+	blurredBackdrop?: boolean;
 	isDismissable?: boolean;
 	onClose?: () => void;
 	"aria-label"?: string;
@@ -57,6 +59,7 @@ export function SendouModal({ ref, ...rest }: DialogElementProps) {
 function DialogElement({
 	id,
 	className,
+	blurredBackdrop,
 	isDismissable,
 	onClose,
 	"aria-label": ariaLabel,
@@ -68,7 +71,9 @@ function DialogElement({
 		<dialog
 			ref={ref}
 			id={id}
-			className={className}
+			className={clsx(className, {
+				[styles.blurredBackdrop]: blurredBackdrop,
+			})}
 			aria-label={ariaLabel}
 			aria-labelledby={ariaLabelledby}
 			tabIndex={-1}
@@ -307,6 +312,7 @@ function dialogElementProps(
 		className: clsx(className, styles.modal, "scrollbar", {
 			[styles.fullScreenModal]: isFullScreen,
 		}),
+		blurredBackdrop: true,
 		isDismissable,
 		onClose,
 		"aria-label": ariaLabel,
diff --git a/app/features/art/components/ArtGrid.module.css b/app/features/art/components/ArtGrid.module.css
index 8a0578f54..f09aabdb3 100644
--- a/app/features/art/components/ArtGrid.module.css
+++ b/app/features/art/components/ArtGrid.module.css
@@ -7,38 +7,141 @@
 	}
 }
 
+.lightbox {
+	width: 100vw;
+	height: 100dvh;
+	max-width: none;
+	max-height: none;
+	margin: 0;
+	padding: 0;
+	border: 0;
+	background: transparent;
+	color: #fff;
+	outline: none;
+	overflow: hidden;
+}
+
+.lightboxBody {
+	width: 100%;
+	height: 100%;
+	display: grid;
+	place-items: center;
+	padding: var(--s-4);
+	cursor: zoom-out;
+}
+
+.lightboxFigure {
+	--lightbox-max-width: calc(100vw - 2 * var(--s-4));
+	--lightbox-max-height: calc(100dvh - 2 * var(--s-4));
+
+	position: relative;
+	margin: 0;
+	max-width: var(--lightbox-max-width);
+	max-height: var(--lightbox-max-height);
+	border-radius: var(--radius-box);
+	overflow: hidden;
+	box-shadow: 0 25px 50px -12px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5);
+	animation: lightbox-zoom-in 200ms ease-out;
+
+	@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
+		animation: none;
+	}
+}
+
+.lightboxFigureSized {
+	aspect-ratio: var(--aspect-ratio);
+	width: min(
+		var(--lightbox-max-width),
+		calc(var(--lightbox-max-height) * var(--aspect-ratio))
+	);
+}
+
+.lightboxPlaceholder {
+	display: block;
+	width: 100%;
+	height: auto;
+	max-width: var(--lightbox-max-width);
+	max-height: var(--lightbox-max-height);
+	object-fit: contain;
+}
+
+.lightboxImg {
+	position: absolute;
+	inset: 0;
+	width: 100%;
+	height: 100%;
+	object-fit: contain;
+	opacity: 0;
+	transition: opacity 250ms ease-out;
+}
+
+.lightboxImgSettled {
+	opacity: 1;
+}
+
+.lightboxInfo {
+	position: absolute;
+	inset-inline: 0;
+	inset-block-end: 0;
+	display: flex;
+	flex-direction: column;
+	align-items: center;
+	gap: var(--s-1);
+	padding: var(--s-8) var(--s-4) var(--s-3);
+	background: linear-gradient(to top, rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8), transparent);
+	text-align: center;
+	transition: opacity 200ms ease-out;
+
+	@media (hover: hover) {
+		opacity: 0;
+
+		.lightboxFigure:hover &,
+		.lightboxFigure:focus-within & {
+			opacity: 1;
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+.lightboxInfoHidden {
+	opacity: 0;
+}
+
+.lightboxDate {
+	font-size: var(--font-2xs);
+	color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);
+}
+
+.lightboxDescription {
+	font-size: var(--font-sm);
+	text-wrap: balance;
+}
+
+.tagsContainer {
+	display: flex;
+	gap: var(--s-1) var(--s-2);
+	justify-content: center;
+	flex-wrap: wrap;
+}
+
 .dialogTag {
 	background-color: #fff;
 	border-radius: var(--radius-box);
 	color: #000;
 	font-size: var(--font-2xs);
 	padding-inline: var(--s-1);
-	margin-block: var(--s-1) var(--s-0-5);
 }
 
 .dialogTagUser {
 	background-color: var(--color-accent);
 }
 
-.dialogDescription {
-	font-size: var(--font-sm);
-	text-align: center;
-	color: #fff;
-}
-
-.dialogImg {
-	max-width: 100%;
-	max-height: 75vh;
-	width: 100%;
-	height: auto;
-	object-fit: contain;
-	display: block;
-}
-
-.tagsContainer {
-	display: flex;
-	gap: var(--s-0-5) var(--s-2);
-	justify-content: center;
-	flex-wrap: wrap;
-	margin-block-start: var(--s-0-5);
+@keyframes lightbox-zoom-in {
+	from {
+		opacity: 0;
+		transform: scale(0.96);
+	}
+	to {
+		opacity: 1;
+		transform: scale(1);
+	}
 }
diff --git a/app/features/art/components/ArtGrid.tsx b/app/features/art/components/ArtGrid.tsx
index 0a97ae812..5d7b8bb7c 100644
--- a/app/features/art/components/ArtGrid.tsx
+++ b/app/features/art/components/ArtGrid.tsx
@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
 import clsx from "clsx";
-import { SquarePen, Trash, Unlink, X } from "lucide-react";
+import { SquarePen, Trash, Unlink } from "lucide-react";
 import * as React from "react";
 import { useTranslation } from "react-i18next";
 import { Link } from "react-router";
 import { Avatar } from "~/components/Avatar";
 import { LinkButton, SendouButton } from "~/components/elements/Button";
-import { SendouDialog } from "~/components/elements/Dialog";
+import { SendouModal } from "~/components/elements/Dialog";
 import { FormWithConfirm } from "~/components/FormWithConfirm";
 import { Pagination } from "~/components/Pagination";
 import { artPage, newArtPage, userArtPage } from "~/features/art/art-urls";
@@ -24,6 +24,8 @@ import type { ListedArt } from "../art-types";
 import { previewUrl } from "../art-utils";
 import styles from "./ArtGrid.module.css";
 
+const preloadedImageUrls = new Set<string>();
+
 export function ArtGrid({
 	arts,
 	enablePreview = false,
@@ -84,68 +86,99 @@ export function ArtGrid({
 }
 
 function BigImageDialog({ close, art }: { close: () => void; art: ListedArt }) {
+	const dialogRef = React.useRef<HTMLDialogElement>(null);
+	const [infoVisible, setInfoVisible] = React.useState(true);
 	const [imageSettled, imageRef] = useImageSettled();
+	const [aspectRatio, placeholderRef] = useImageAspectRatio();
 	const { formatter } = useDateTimeFormat({
 		year: "numeric",
 		month: "numeric",
 		day: "numeric",
 	});
 
+	const dateText = formatter.format(databaseTimestampToDate(art.createdAt));
+
+	const handleClick = (event: React.MouseEvent<HTMLDivElement>) => {
+		const target = event.target as HTMLElement;
+		if (target.closest("a")) return;
+		if (target.closest("figure") && !deviceCanHover()) {
+			setInfoVisible((visible) => !visible);
+			return;
+		}
+		dialogRef.current?.close();
+	};
+
 	return (
-		<SendouDialog
-			heading={formatter.format(databaseTimestampToDate(art.createdAt)) ?? ""}
+		<SendouModal
+			ref={dialogRef}
+			className={styles.lightbox}
+			blurredBackdrop
 			onClose={close}
-			isFullScreen
+			aria-label={art.description || dateText}
 		>
-			<img
-				alt=""
-				src={art.url}
-				loading="lazy"
-				className={styles.dialogImg}
-				ref={imageRef}
-			/>
-			{art.tags || art.linkedUsers ? (
-				<div
-					className={clsx(styles.tagsContainer, { invisible: !imageSettled })}
-				>
-					{art.linkedUsers?.map((user) => (
-						<Link
-							to={userPage(user)}
-							key={user.discordId}
-							className={clsx(styles.dialogTag, styles.dialogTagUser)}
-						>
-							{user.username}
-						</Link>
-					))}
-					{art.tags?.map((tag) => (
-						<Link
-							to={artPage(tag.name)}
-							key={tag.id}
-							className={styles.dialogTag}
-						>
-							#{tag.name}
-						</Link>
-					))}
-				</div>
-			) : null}
-			{art.description ? (
-				<div
-					className={clsx(styles.dialogDescription, {
-						invisible: !imageSettled,
+			{/* biome-ignore lint/a11y/noStaticElementInteractions: click-anywhere to close, Escape is handled by the dialog */}
+			<div className={styles.lightboxBody} onClick={handleClick}>
+				<figure
+					className={clsx(styles.lightboxFigure, {
+						[styles.lightboxFigureSized]: aspectRatio,
 					})}
+					style={
+						aspectRatio
+							? ({ "--aspect-ratio": aspectRatio } as React.CSSProperties)
+							: undefined
+					}
 				>
-					{art.description}
-				</div>
-			) : null}
-			<SendouButton
-				variant="destructive"
-				className="mx-auto mt-6"
-				onClick={close}
-				icon={<X />}
-			>
-				Close
-			</SendouButton>
-		</SendouDialog>
+					<img
+						alt=""
+						src={previewUrl(art.url)}
+						className={styles.lightboxPlaceholder}
+						ref={placeholderRef}
+					/>
+					<img
+						alt=""
+						src={art.url}
+						className={clsx(styles.lightboxImg, {
+							[styles.lightboxImgSettled]: imageSettled,
+						})}
+						ref={imageRef}
+					/>
+					<figcaption
+						className={clsx(styles.lightboxInfo, {
+							[styles.lightboxInfoHidden]: !infoVisible,
+						})}
+					>
+						<time className={styles.lightboxDate}>{dateText}</time>
+						{art.description ? (
+							<div className={styles.lightboxDescription}>
+								{art.description}
+							</div>
+						) : null}
+						{art.tags || art.linkedUsers ? (
+							<div className={styles.tagsContainer}>
+								{art.linkedUsers?.map((user) => (
+									<Link
+										to={userPage(user)}
+										key={user.discordId}
+										className={clsx(styles.dialogTag, styles.dialogTagUser)}
+									>
+										{user.username}
+									</Link>
+								))}
+								{art.tags?.map((tag) => (
+									<Link
+										to={artPage(tag.name)}
+										key={tag.id}
+										className={styles.dialogTag}
+									>
+										#{tag.name}
+									</Link>
+								))}
+							</div>
+						) : null}
+					</figcaption>
+				</figure>
+			</div>
+		</SendouModal>
 	);
 }
 
@@ -173,6 +206,7 @@ function ImagePreview({
 			src={previewUrl(art.url)}
 			loading="lazy"
 			onClick={onClick}
+			onPointerEnter={enablePreview ? () => preloadImage(art.url) : undefined}
 			ref={imageRef}
 			className={enablePreview ? styles.thumbnail : undefined}
 			data-testid="art-image"
@@ -329,3 +363,39 @@ function useImageSettled() {
 
 	return [imageSettled, imageRef] as const;
 }
+
+/** Aspect ratio of the image once it has loaded, and the ref to give it. */
+function useImageAspectRatio() {
+	const [aspectRatio, setAspectRatio] = React.useState<number | null>(null);
+
+	const imageRef = (image: HTMLImageElement | null) => {
+		if (!image) return;
+
+		const measure = () => {
+			if (image.naturalWidth > 0 && image.naturalHeight > 0) {
+				setAspectRatio(image.naturalWidth / image.naturalHeight);
+			}
+		};
+		if (image.complete) {
+			measure();
+			return;
+		}
+
+		image.addEventListener("load", measure);
+		return () => image.removeEventListener("load", measure);
+	};
+
+	return [aspectRatio, imageRef] as const;
+}
+
+/** Touch devices have no hover to reveal the lightbox info with, so a tap on the image toggles it instead. */
+function deviceCanHover() {
+	return window.matchMedia("(hover: hover)").matches;
+}
+
+/** Warms the browser cache so the full-size image is ready by the time the lightbox opens. */
+function preloadImage(url: string) {
+	if (preloadedImageUrls.has(url)) return;
+	preloadedImageUrls.add(url);
+	new Image().src = url;
+}
diff --git a/changelog/2026-09-19-art-lightbox.md b/changelog/2026-09-19-art-lightbox.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..2648736a4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog/2026-09-19-art-lightbox.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+navItem: art
+type: feature
+---
+User art page big art view has been redesigned and speed improved.