diff --git a/modules/MprisMenu.qml b/modules/MprisMenu.qml
index d1e9f2b..b4bfb29 100644
--- a/modules/MprisMenu.qml
+++ b/modules/MprisMenu.qml
@@ -9,23 +9,35 @@ M.PopupPanel {
 
     required property MprisPlayer player
 
-    // Album art placeholder (or real art if available)
-    Rectangle {
+    // Album art
+    Item {
         width: menuWindow.panelWidth
-        height: 80
-        color: M.Theme.base02
-        radius: M.Theme.radius
+        height: _artImg.status === Image.Ready ? 140 : 60
+        clip: true
+
+        Rectangle {
+            anchors.fill: parent
+            color: M.Theme.base02
+        }
 
         Image {
+            id: _artImg
             anchors.fill: parent
             source: menuWindow.player?.trackArtUrl ?? ""
             fillMode: Image.PreserveAspectCrop
             visible: status === Image.Ready
+        }
 
-            // Round top corners to match panel
-            layer.enabled: true
-            layer.effect: Item {
-                // simple clip — the panel background behind handles the rounding
+        // Gradient fade at the bottom so art blends into the panel
+        Rectangle {
+            anchors.left: parent.left
+            anchors.right: parent.right
+            anchors.bottom: parent.bottom
+            height: 40
+            visible: _artImg.visible
+            gradient: Gradient {
+                GradientStop { position: 0; color: "transparent" }
+                GradientStop { position: 1; color: M.Theme.base01 }
             }
         }
 
@@ -36,7 +48,7 @@ M.PopupPanel {
             color: M.Theme.base04
             font.pixelSize: 28
             font.family: M.Theme.iconFontFamily
-            visible: !menuWindow.player?.trackArtUrl
+            visible: _artImg.status !== Image.Ready
         }
     }