diff --git a/apps/web/src/components/molecules/ImageGallery.stories.js b/apps/web/src/components/molecules/ImageGallery.stories.js
index 72e9060..ffdcf20 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/components/molecules/ImageGallery.stories.js
+++ b/apps/web/src/components/molecules/ImageGallery.stories.js
@@ -23,4 +23,11 @@ export const BrokenImageFallback = {
   args: {
     images: [{ id: 'broken', src: '/fixtures/missing-image.webp', alt: 'Unavailable collectible image' }],
   },
+};
+
+export const LoadingImage = {
+  args: {
+    images: [{ id: 'loading', src: '/fixtures/slow-image.webp', alt: 'Collectible image loading' }],
+  },
+  parameters: { chromatic: { delay: 1000 } },
 };
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/apps/web/src/components/molecules/ImageGallery.vue b/apps/web/src/components/molecules/ImageGallery.vue
index e030571..fd12355 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/components/molecules/ImageGallery.vue
+++ b/apps/web/src/components/molecules/ImageGallery.vue
@@ -1,25 +1,47 @@
 <script setup>
-import { ref } from 'vue';
+import { onMounted, ref } from 'vue';
 
 const props = defineProps({
   images: { type: Array, required: true },
 });
 const selectedIndex = ref(0);
 const failedImages = ref(new Set());
+const loadingImages = ref(new Set());
+
+function imageKey(image) {
+  return image?.id ?? '';
+}
+
+function markLoading(image) {
+  if (!image?.src && !image?.url) return;
+  loadingImages.value = new Set(loadingImages.value).add(imageKey(image));
+}
 
 function markFailed(imageId) {
   failedImages.value = new Set(failedImages.value).add(imageId);
+  const nextLoadingImages = new Set(loadingImages.value);
+  nextLoadingImages.delete(imageId);
+  loadingImages.value = nextLoadingImages;
 }
+
+function markLoaded(imageId) {
+  const nextLoadingImages = new Set(loadingImages.value);
+  nextLoadingImages.delete(imageId);
+  loadingImages.value = nextLoadingImages;
+}
+
+onMounted(() => markLoading(props.images[selectedIndex.value]));
 </script>
 
 <template>
   <div class="image-gallery">
     <div class="image-gallery__stage">
-      <img v-if="(props.images[selectedIndex]?.src ?? props.images[selectedIndex]?.url) && !failedImages.has(props.images[selectedIndex].id)" :src="props.images[selectedIndex].src ?? props.images[selectedIndex].url" :alt="props.images[selectedIndex].altText ?? props.images[selectedIndex].alt" @error="markFailed(props.images[selectedIndex].id)" />
-      <span v-else class="image-gallery__placeholder" role="img" :aria-label="props.images[selectedIndex]?.src ? 'Collectible image unavailable' : 'No collectible image available'">{{ props.images[selectedIndex]?.src ? 'IMAGE UNAVAILABLE' : (props.images[selectedIndex]?.label ?? 'IMAGE') }}</span>
+      <img v-if="(props.images[selectedIndex]?.src ?? props.images[selectedIndex]?.url) && !failedImages.has(props.images[selectedIndex].id)" :src="props.images[selectedIndex].src ?? props.images[selectedIndex].url" :alt="props.images[selectedIndex].altText ?? props.images[selectedIndex].alt" @load="markLoaded(props.images[selectedIndex].id)" @error="markFailed(props.images[selectedIndex].id)" />
+      <span v-if="loadingImages.has(imageKey(props.images[selectedIndex]))" class="image-gallery__placeholder" role="status" aria-label="Loading collectible image">Loading image...</span>
+      <span v-else-if="!((props.images[selectedIndex]?.src ?? props.images[selectedIndex]?.url) && !failedImages.has(props.images[selectedIndex].id))" class="image-gallery__placeholder" role="img" :aria-label="props.images[selectedIndex]?.src ? 'Collectible image unavailable' : 'No collectible image available'">{{ props.images[selectedIndex]?.src ? 'IMAGE UNAVAILABLE' : (props.images[selectedIndex]?.label ?? 'IMAGE') }}</span>
     </div>
     <div v-if="props.images.length > 1" class="image-gallery__controls" aria-label="Gallery images">
-      <button v-for="(image, index) in props.images" :key="image.id" :class="{ 'image-gallery__thumb--selected': index === selectedIndex }" type="button" :aria-label="`Show image ${index + 1}: ${image.alt}`" @click="selectedIndex = index">
+      <button v-for="(image, index) in props.images" :key="image.id" :class="{ 'image-gallery__thumb--selected': index === selectedIndex }" type="button" :aria-label="`Show image ${index + 1}: ${image.alt}`" :aria-current="index === selectedIndex ? 'true' : undefined" @click="selectedIndex = index; markLoading(image)">
         {{ index + 1 }}
       </button>
     </div>