diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 2515540..2d300b9 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -4,4 +4,7 @@ include($ENV{IDF_PATH}/tools/cmake/project.cmake)
 project(mtg-rfid-companion)
 
 idf_build_set_property(PROJECT_DESCRIPTION "MTG RFID Companion")
-idf_build_set_property(PROJECT_HOMEPAGE_URL "https://scryfall.com")
\ No newline at end of file
+idf_build_set_property(PROJECT_HOMEPAGE_URL "https://scryfall.com")
+
+# Bake the seeded LittleFS contents (from ./storage) into the flash image
+littlefs_create_partition_image(storage storage FLASH_IN_PROJECT)
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/main/CMakeLists.txt b/main/CMakeLists.txt
index e8ed6ae..a24be07 100644
--- a/main/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/main/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -3,5 +3,7 @@ idf_component_register(SRCS
     "spi_bus_manager.c"
     "storage_manager.c"
     "rfid_manager.c"
+    "display_manager.c"
+    "ui_task.c"
     INCLUDE_DIRS "."
 )
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/main/display_manager.c b/main/display_manager.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bd8703f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/main/display_manager.c
@@ -0,0 +1,237 @@
+/*
+ * MTG RFID Companion - ST7789 display manager (Core 1)
+ */
+
+#include <stdlib.h>
+#include <string.h>
+#include <stdio.h>
+#include "esp_log.h"
+#include "esp_lcd_panel_io.h"
+#include "esp_lcd_panel_ops.h"
+#include "esp_lcd_panel_vendor.h"
+#include "esp_lcd_panel_st7789.h"
+#include "driver/spi_master.h"
+#include "tjpgd.h"
+#include "hw_pins.h"
+#include "spi_bus_manager.h"
+#include "display_manager.h"
+#include "ui_font.h"
+
+static const char *TAG = "display";
+
+#define LCD_HOST           HW_SPI_HOST
+#define LCD_PIXEL_CLOCK_HZ (20 * 1000 * 1000)
+#define LCD_CMD_BITS       8
+#define LCD_PARAM_BITS     8
+#define LCD_TRANS_QUEUE    10
+
+#define JPEG_POOL_SIZE     (10 * 1024)
+#define JPEG_SBUF          (512) /* must match CONFIG_JD_SZBUF */
+
+static esp_lcd_panel_handle_t s_panel;
+static uint16_t *s_staging = NULL;  /* 240 px line staging buffer for JPEG */
+
+static esp_err_t panel_io_init(esp_lcd_panel_io_handle_t *io)
+{
+    esp_lcd_panel_io_spi_config_t io_config = {
+        .dc_gpio_num = HW_LCD_DC_GPIO,
+        .cs_gpio_num = HW_LCD_CS_GPIO,
+        .pclk_hz = LCD_PIXEL_CLOCK_HZ,
+        .lcd_cmd_bits = LCD_CMD_BITS,
+        .lcd_param_bits = LCD_PARAM_BITS,
+        .spi_mode = 0,
+        .trans_queue_depth = LCD_TRANS_QUEUE,
+    };
+    return esp_lcd_new_panel_io_spi((esp_lcd_spi_bus_handle_t)LCD_HOST, &io_config, io);
+}
+
+esp_err_t display_manager_init(void)
+{
+    if (s_panel != NULL) {
+        return ESP_OK;
+    }
+
+    esp_lcd_panel_io_handle_t io = NULL;
+    esp_err_t ret = panel_io_init(&io);
+    if (ret != ESP_OK) {
+        ESP_LOGE(TAG, "panel io init failed: %s", esp_err_to_name(ret));
+        return ret;
+    }
+
+    esp_lcd_panel_dev_config_t panel_config = {
+        .reset_gpio_num = HW_LCD_RST_GPIO,
+        .rgb_ele_order = LCD_RGB_ELEMENT_ORDER_RGB,
+        .bits_per_pixel = 16,
+    };
+    ret = esp_lcd_new_panel_st7789(io, &panel_config, &s_panel);
+    if (ret != ESP_OK) {
+        ESP_LOGE(TAG, "st7789 panel create failed: %s", esp_err_to_name(ret));
+        return ret;
+    }
+
+    ESP_ERROR_CHECK(esp_lcd_panel_reset(s_panel));
+    ESP_ERROR_CHECK(esp_lcd_panel_init(s_panel));
+    ESP_ERROR_CHECK(esp_lcd_panel_invert_color(s_panel, true));
+    ESP_ERROR_CHECK(esp_lcd_panel_disp_on_off(s_panel, true));
+
+    s_staging = malloc(DISP_W * sizeof(uint16_t));
+    if (s_staging == NULL) {
+        ESP_LOGE(TAG, "staging buffer alloc failed");
+        return ESP_ERR_NO_MEM;
+    }
+
+    ESP_LOGI(TAG, "ST7789 %dx%d ready (CS=%d DC=%d RST=%d)",
+             DISP_W, DISP_H, HW_LCD_CS_GPIO, HW_LCD_DC_GPIO, HW_LCD_RST_GPIO);
+    return ESP_OK;
+}
+
+void display_draw_bitmap(int x0, int y0, int x1, int y1, const uint16_t *pixels)
+{
+    if (s_panel == NULL || pixels == NULL) {
+        return;
+    }
+    esp_lcd_panel_draw_bitmap(s_panel, x0, y0, x1, y1, pixels);
+}
+
+void display_fill_rect(int x0, int y0, int x1, int y1, uint16_t color)
+{
+    if (x0 < 0) x0 = 0;
+    if (y0 < 0) y0 = 0;
+    if (x1 > DISP_W) x1 = DISP_W;
+    if (y1 > DISP_H) y1 = DISP_H;
+    if (x1 <= x0 || y1 <= y0) {
+        return;
+    }
+
+    int width = x1 - x0;
+    int height = y1 - y0;
+
+    static uint16_t line[DISP_W];
+    for (int i = 0; i < width; i++) {
+        line[i] = color;
+    }
+    for (int r = 0; r < height; r++) {
+        display_draw_bitmap(x0, y0 + r, x1, y0 + r + 1, line);
+    }
+}
+
+void display_fill(uint16_t color)
+{
+    display_fill_rect(0, 0, DISP_W, DISP_H, color);
+}
+
+int display_put_text(int x, int y, const char *str, uint16_t fg, uint16_t bg)
+{
+    int x_start = x;
+
+    while (str != NULL && *str != '\0') {
+        char c = *str++;
+        if (c >= FONT5X7_FIRST_CHAR && c <= FONT5X7_LAST_CHAR) {
+            const uint8_t *glyph = font5x7[c - FONT5X7_FIRST_CHAR];
+            uint16_t cell[FONT5X7_W][FONT5X7_H];
+
+            for (int gy = 0; gy < FONT5X7_H; gy++) {
+                for (int gx = 0; gx < FONT5X7_W; gx++) {
+                    cell[gx][gy] = (glyph[gy] >> gx) & 1 ? fg : bg;
+                }
+            }
+            if (x + FONT5X7_W <= DISP_W && y + FONT5X7_H <= DISP_H) {
+                display_draw_bitmap(x, y, x + FONT5X7_W, y + FONT5X7_H, &cell[0][0]);
+            }
+            x += FONT5X7_W + 1;
+        } else if (c == ' ') {
+            x += FONT5X7_W + 1;
+        }
+    }
+    return x - x_start;
+}
+
+void display_put_text_center(int y, const char *str, uint16_t fg, uint16_t bg)
+{
+    int len = (int)strlen(str);
+    int width = len * (FONT5X7_W + 1) - 1;
+    int x = (DISP_W - width) / 2;
+    if (x < 0) x = 0;
+    display_put_text(x, y, str, fg, bg);
+}
+
+/* ------------------------------------------------------------------ */
+/*  tjpgd streaming decode                                             */
+/* ------------------------------------------------------------------ */
+
+typedef struct {
+    FILE *f;
+} jpeg_io_t;
+
+static size_t jpeg_input_cb(JDEC *jd, uint8_t *buf, size_t ndata)
+{
+    jpeg_io_t *io = (jpeg_io_t *)jd->device;
+    if (io == NULL || io->f == NULL) {
+        return 0;
+    }
+    if (buf == NULL) {
+        /* tjpgd requests skipping bytes during header scan */
+        if (fseek(io->f, (long)ndata, SEEK_CUR) == 0) {
+            return ndata;
+        }
+        return 0;
+    }
+    return fread(buf, 1, ndata, io->f);
+}
+
+static int jpeg_output_cb(JDEC *jd, void *bitmap, JRECT *rect)
+{
+    (void)jd;
+    uint16_t *pix = (uint16_t *)bitmap;
+    int w = rect->right - rect->left + 1;
+    int h = rect->bottom - rect->top + 1;
+
+    for (int row = 0; row < h; row++) {
+        /* Convert little-endian RGB565 words (tjpgd) to big-endian wire order */
+        for (int col = 0; col < w; col++) {
+            uint16_t v = pix[row * w + col];
+            s_staging[col] = (uint16_t)((v << 8) | (v >> 8));
+        }
+        display_draw_bitmap(rect->left, rect->top + row, rect->left + w, rect->top + row + 1, s_staging);
+    }
+    return 1; /* continue decoding */
+}
+
+esp_err_t display_show_jpeg_file(const char *path)
+{
+    esp_err_t ret = ESP_FAIL;
+    FILE *f = fopen(path, "rb");
+    if (f == NULL) {
+        ESP_LOGE(TAG, "cannot open %s", path);
+        return ESP_ERR_NOT_FOUND;
+    }
+
+    jpeg_io_t io = { .f = f };
+    JDEC jdec;
+    void *pool = malloc(JPEG_POOL_SIZE);
+    if (pool == NULL) {
+        ESP_LOGE(TAG, "jpeg pool alloc failed");
+        fclose(f);
+        return ESP_ERR_NO_MEM;
+    }
+
+    JRESULT jr = jd_prepare(&jdec, jpeg_input_cb, pool, JPEG_POOL_SIZE, &io);
+    if (jr != JDR_OK) {
+        ESP_LOGE(TAG, "jd_prepare failed (%d)", jr);
+        goto done;
+    }
+
+    ESP_LOGI(TAG, "decoding %s: %ux%u", path, (unsigned)jdec.width, (unsigned)jdec.height);
+    jr = jd_decomp(&jdec, jpeg_output_cb, 0);
+    if (jr != JDR_OK) {
+        ESP_LOGE(TAG, "jd_decomp failed (%d)", jr);
+        goto done;
+    }
+    ESP_LOGI(TAG, "JPEG displayed: %s", path);
+    ret = ESP_OK;
+
+done:
+    free(pool);
+    fclose(f);
+    return ret;
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/main/display_manager.h b/main/display_manager.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9d5939d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/main/display_manager.h
@@ -0,0 +1,71 @@
+/*
+ * MTG RFID Companion - ST7789 display manager (Core 1)
+ *
+ * Phase 4: Initializes the ST7789 240x320 panel via esp_lcd as a device on
+ * the shared SPI2_HOST bus, provides RGB565 rendering primitives, glyph text,
+ * and streaming tjpgd JPEG decode into the panel.
+ */
+
+#pragma once
+
+#include "esp_err.h"
+#include <stdint.h>
+
+#ifdef __cplusplus
+extern "C" {
+#endif
+
+#define DISP_W (240)
+#define DISP_H (320)
+
+#define RGB565(r, g, b) ((uint16_t)((((r)&0xF8) << 8) | (((g)&0xFC) << 3) | (((b)&0xF8) >> 3)))
+
+#define COLOR_BLACK   RGB565(0, 0, 0)
+#define COLOR_WHITE   RGB565(255, 255, 255)
+#define COLOR_RED     RGB565(255, 0, 0)
+#define COLOR_GREEN   RGB565(0, 255, 0)
+#define COLOR_BLUE    RGB565(0, 0, 255)
+#define COLOR_YELLOW  RGB565(255, 255, 0)
+#define COLOR_CYAN    RGB565(0, 255, 255)
+#define COLOR_MAGENTA RGB565(255, 0, 255)
+#define COLOR_GRAY    RGB565(128, 128, 128)
+
+/**
+ * @brief Initialize the ST7789 panel. Requires the shared SPI bus to exist.
+ */
+esp_err_t display_manager_init(void);
+
+/**
+ * @brief Fill the whole screen with a color.
+ */
+void display_fill(uint16_t color);
+
+/**
+ * @brief Fill a rectangle. x1/y1 are exclusive.
+ */
+void display_fill_rect(int x0, int y0, int x1, int y1, uint16_t color);
+
+/**
+ * @brief Draw pixels. x1/y1 exclusive, buffer length = (x1-x0)*(y1-y0) RGB565 words.
+ */
+void display_draw_bitmap(int x0, int y0, int x1, int y1, const uint16_t *pixels);
+
+/**
+ * @brief Draw text with a 5x7 font. Returns pixel width consumed.
+ */
+int display_put_text(int x, int y, const char *str, uint16_t fg, uint16_t bg);
+
+/**
+ * @brief Draw text centered horizontally on the given row.
+ */
+void display_put_text_center(int y, const char *str, uint16_t fg, uint16_t bg);
+
+/**
+ * @brief Stream-decode a JPEG from LittleFS and draw it at the top-left.
+ *        Uses tjpgd with a line-by-line output into the panel DMA path.
+ */
+esp_err_t display_show_jpeg_file(const char *path);
+
+#ifdef __cplusplus
+}
+#endif
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/main/idf_component.yml b/main/idf_component.yml
index 1d8ec2d..73a2042 100644
--- a/main/idf_component.yml
+++ b/main/idf_component.yml
@@ -3,4 +3,5 @@
 dependencies:
   idf: ">=5.0"
   abobija/rc522: "*"
-  joltwallet/littlefs: "*"
\ No newline at end of file
+  joltwallet/littlefs: "*"
+  esp_jpeg: ">=1.0.2"
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/main/main.c b/main/main.c
index 9a16b58..4f2e9af 100644
--- a/main/main.c
+++ b/main/main.c
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@
 #include "spi_bus_manager.h"
 #include "storage_manager.h"
 #include "rfid_manager.h"
+#include "display_manager.h"
+#include "ui_task.h"
 
 static const char *TAG = "MAIN";
 
@@ -14,11 +16,14 @@ void app_main(void)
 
     ESP_ERROR_CHECK(spi_bus_manager_init());
     ESP_ERROR_CHECK(storage_manager_init());
+    ESP_ERROR_CHECK(display_manager_init());
 
     ESP_ERROR_CHECK(rfid_manager_init());
     ESP_ERROR_CHECK(rfid_manager_start());
 
-    ESP_LOGI(TAG, "Boot sequence complete. Ready for Phase 4+.");
+    ESP_ERROR_CHECK(ui_task_start());
+
+    ESP_LOGI(TAG, "Boot sequence complete. Ready for Phase 5+.");
 
     while (1) {
         vTaskDelay(pdMS_TO_TICKS(1000));
diff --git a/main/ui_font.h b/main/ui_font.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..aedd2d8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/main/ui_font.h
@@ -0,0 +1,114 @@
+/*
+ * MTG RFID Companion - 5x7 bitmap font (uppercase, digits, punctuation)
+ *
+ * Row-major glyph table. Each glyph is 7 bytes; one byte per pixel row,
+ * low 5 bits map columns 0..4 from left to right (bit0 = left column).
+ * Index = ASCII code - 32.
+ */
+
+#pragma once
+
+#define FONT5X7_W          (5)
+#define FONT5X7_H          (7)
+#define FONT5X7_FIRST_CHAR (32)
+#define FONT5X7_LAST_CHAR  (126)
+#define FONT5X7_NUM_CHARS  (FONT5X7_LAST_CHAR - FONT5X7_FIRST_CHAR + 1)
+
+/* (char - 32) -> glyph rows */
+static const uint8_t font5x7[FONT5X7_NUM_CHARS][FONT5X7_H] = {
+    /* 0x20 ' ' */ { 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00 },
+    /* 0x21 '!' */ { 0x04, 0x04, 0x04, 0x04, 0x00, 0x04, 0x04 },
+    /* 0x22 '"' */ { 0x0A, 0x0A, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00 },
+    /* 0x23 '#' */ { 0x0A, 0x15, 0x1F, 0x15, 0x1F, 0x0A, 0x0A },
+    /* 0x24 '$' */ { 0x0E, 0x11, 0x0F, 0x14, 0x0F, 0x11, 0x0E },
+    /* 0x25 '%' */ { 0x19, 0x1A, 0x02, 0x04, 0x08, 0x0B, 0x13 },
+    /* 0x26 '&' */ { 0x0E, 0x11, 0x09, 0x06, 0x13, 0x11, 0x0E },
+    /* 0x27 '\'' */ { 0x06, 0x04, 0x08, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00 },
+    /* 0x28 '(' */ { 0x02, 0x04, 0x08, 0x08, 0x08, 0x04, 0x02 },
+    /* 0x29 ')' */ { 0x08, 0x04, 0x02, 0x02, 0x02, 0x04, 0x08 },
+    /* 0x2A '*' */ { 0x04, 0x15, 0x1F, 0x04, 0x04, 0x00, 0x00 },
+    /* 0x2B '+' */ { 0x00, 0x04, 0x04, 0x1F, 0x04, 0x04, 0x00 },
+    /* 0x2C ',' */ { 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x0C, 0x04, 0x08 },
+    /* 0x2D '-' */ { 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x1F, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00 },
+    /* 0x2E '.' */ { 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x0C, 0x0C },
+    /* 0x2F '/' */ { 0x01, 0x01, 0x02, 0x04, 0x08, 0x10, 0x10 },
+    /* 0x30 '0' */ { 0x0E, 0x11, 0x11, 0x11, 0x11, 0x11, 0x0E },
+    /* 0x31 '1' */ { 0x04, 0x0C, 0x04, 0x04, 0x04, 0x04, 0x1F },
+    /* 0x32 '2' */ { 0x0E, 0x11, 0x01, 0x02, 0x04, 0x08, 0x1F },
+    /* 0x33 '3' */ { 0x0E, 0x01, 0x01, 0x0E, 0x01, 0x01, 0x0E },
+    /* 0x34 '4' */ { 0x11, 0x11, 0x11, 0x1F, 0x01, 0x01, 0x01 },
+    /* 0x35 '5' */ { 0x1F, 0x10, 0x10, 0x1E, 0x01, 0x01, 0x0E },
+    /* 0x36 '6' */ { 0x0E, 0x11, 0x10, 0x1E, 0x11, 0x11, 0x0E },
+    /* 0x37 '7' */ { 0x1F, 0x01, 0x02, 0x04, 0x04, 0x04, 0x04 },
+    /* 0x38 '8' */ { 0x0E, 0x11, 0x11, 0x0E, 0x11, 0x11, 0x0E },
+    /* 0x39 '9' */ { 0x0E, 0x11, 0x11, 0x0F, 0x01, 0x01, 0x0E },
+    /* 0x3A ':' */ { 0x00, 0x06, 0x06, 0x00, 0x06, 0x06, 0x00 },
+    /* 0x3B ';' */ { 0x00, 0x06, 0x06, 0x00, 0x06, 0x02, 0x04 },
+    /* 0x3C '<' */ { 0x02, 0x06, 0x0A, 0x1E, 0x08, 0x08, 0x00 },
+    /* 0x3D '=' */ { 0x00, 0x1F, 0x00, 0x1F, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00 },
+    /* 0x3E '>' */ { 0x08, 0x0C, 0x0A, 0x0F, 0x02, 0x02, 0x00 },
+    /* 0x3F '?' */ { 0x0E, 0x11, 0x01, 0x06, 0x04, 0x00, 0x04 },
+    /* 0x40 '@' */ { 0x0E, 0x11, 0x15, 0x1F, 0x10, 0x10, 0x0F },
+    /* 0x41 'A' */ { 0x0E, 0x11, 0x11, 0x1F, 0x11, 0x11, 0x11 },
+    /* 0x42 'B' */ { 0x1E, 0x11, 0x11, 0x1E, 0x11, 0x11, 0x1E },
+    /* 0x43 'C' */ { 0x0E, 0x11, 0x10, 0x10, 0x10, 0x11, 0x0E },
+    /* 0x44 'D' */ { 0x18, 0x11, 0x11, 0x11, 0x11, 0x11, 0x18 },
+    /* 0x45 'E' */ { 0x1F, 0x10, 0x10, 0x1F, 0x10, 0x10, 0x1F },
+    /* 0x46 'F' */ { 0x1F, 0x10, 0x10, 0x1E, 0x10, 0x10, 0x10 },
+    /* 0x47 'G' */ { 0x0E, 0x11, 0x10, 0x13, 0x11, 0x11, 0x0F },
+    /* 0x48 'H' */ { 0x11, 0x11, 0x11, 0x1F, 0x11, 0x11, 0x11 },
+    /* 0x49 'I' */ { 0x1F, 0x04, 0x04, 0x04, 0x04, 0x04, 0x1F },
+    /* 0x4A 'J' */ { 0x01, 0x01, 0x01, 0x01, 0x11, 0x11, 0x0E },
+    /* 0x4B 'K' */ { 0x11, 0x12, 0x14, 0x18, 0x14, 0x12, 0x11 },
+    /* 0x4C 'L' */ { 0x10, 0x10, 0x10, 0x10, 0x10, 0x10, 0x1F },
+    /* 0x4D 'M' */ { 0x11, 0x19, 0x15, 0x13, 0x11, 0x11, 0x11 },
+    /* 0x4E 'N' */ { 0x11, 0x19, 0x15, 0x13, 0x11, 0x11, 0x11 },
+    /* 0x4F 'O' */ { 0x0E, 0x11, 0x11, 0x11, 0x11, 0x11, 0x0E },
+    /* 0x50 'P' */ { 0x1E, 0x11, 0x11, 0x1E, 0x10, 0x10, 0x10 },
+    /* 0x51 'Q' */ { 0x0E, 0x11, 0x11, 0x11, 0x15, 0x12, 0x0D },
+    /* 0x52 'R' */ { 0x1E, 0x11, 0x11, 0x1E, 0x14, 0x12, 0x11 },
+    /* 0x53 'S' */ { 0x0E, 0x11, 0x10, 0x0E, 0x01, 0x11, 0x0E },
+    /* 0x54 'T' */ { 0x1F, 0x04, 0x04, 0x04, 0x04, 0x04, 0x04 },
+    /* 0x55 'U' */ { 0x11, 0x11, 0x11, 0x11, 0x11, 0x11, 0x0E },
+    /* 0x56 'V' */ { 0x11, 0x11, 0x11, 0x11, 0x11, 0x0A, 0x04 },
+    /* 0x57 'W' */ { 0x11, 0x11, 0x11, 0x13, 0x15, 0x19, 0x11 },
+    /* 0x58 'X' */ { 0x11, 0x11, 0x0A, 0x04, 0x0A, 0x11, 0x11 },
+    /* 0x59 'Y' */ { 0x11, 0x11, 0x0A, 0x04, 0x04, 0x04, 0x04 },
+    /* 0x5A 'Z' */ { 0x1F, 0x01, 0x02, 0x04, 0x08, 0x10, 0x1F },
+    /* 0x5B '[' */ { 0x08, 0x0C, 0x08, 0x08, 0x08, 0x08, 0x0E },
+    /* 0x5C '\\' */ { 0x10, 0x10, 0x08, 0x04, 0x02, 0x01, 0x01 },
+    /* 0x5D ']' */ { 0x0E, 0x04, 0x04, 0x04, 0x04, 0x0C, 0x04 },
+    /* 0x5E '^' */ { 0x04, 0x0A, 0x15, 0x04, 0x04, 0x00, 0x00 },
+    /* 0x5F '_' */ { 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x1F },
+    /* 0x60 '`' */ { 0x06, 0x08, 0x04, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00 },
+    /* 0x61 'a' */ { 0x0E, 0x11, 0x11, 0x1F, 0x11, 0x11, 0x11 },
+    /* 0x62 'b' */ { 0x1E, 0x11, 0x11, 0x1E, 0x11, 0x11, 0x1E },
+    /* 0x63 'c' */ { 0x0E, 0x11, 0x10, 0x10, 0x10, 0x11, 0x0E },
+    /* 0x64 'd' */ { 0x18, 0x11, 0x11, 0x11, 0x11, 0x11, 0x18 },
+    /* 0x65 'e' */ { 0x1F, 0x10, 0x10, 0x1F, 0x10, 0x10, 0x1F },
+    /* 0x66 'f' */ { 0x1F, 0x10, 0x10, 0x1E, 0x10, 0x10, 0x10 },
+    /* 0x67 'g' */ { 0x0E, 0x11, 0x10, 0x13, 0x11, 0x11, 0x0F },
+    /* 0x68 'h' */ { 0x11, 0x11, 0x11, 0x1F, 0x11, 0x11, 0x11 },
+    /* 0x69 'i' */ { 0x1F, 0x04, 0x04, 0x04, 0x04, 0x04, 0x1F },
+    /* 0x6A 'j' */ { 0x01, 0x01, 0x01, 0x01, 0x11, 0x11, 0x0E },
+    /* 0x6B 'k' */ { 0x11, 0x12, 0x14, 0x18, 0x14, 0x12, 0x11 },
+    /* 0x6C 'l' */ { 0x10, 0x10, 0x10, 0x10, 0x10, 0x10, 0x1F },
+    /* 0x6D 'm' */ { 0x11, 0x19, 0x15, 0x13, 0x11, 0x11, 0x11 },
+    /* 0x6E 'n' */ { 0x11, 0x19, 0x15, 0x13, 0x11, 0x11, 0x11 },
+    /* 0x6F 'o' */ { 0x0E, 0x11, 0x11, 0x11, 0x11, 0x11, 0x0E },
+    /* 0x70 'p' */ { 0x1E, 0x11, 0x11, 0x1E, 0x10, 0x10, 0x10 },
+    /* 0x71 'q' */ { 0x0E, 0x11, 0x11, 0x11, 0x15, 0x12, 0x0D },
+    /* 0x72 'r' */ { 0x1E, 0x11, 0x11, 0x1E, 0x14, 0x12, 0x11 },
+    /* 0x73 's' */ { 0x0E, 0x11, 0x10, 0x0E, 0x01, 0x11, 0x0E },
+    /* 0x74 't' */ { 0x1F, 0x04, 0x04, 0x04, 0x04, 0x04, 0x04 },
+    /* 0x75 'u' */ { 0x11, 0x11, 0x11, 0x11, 0x11, 0x11, 0x0E },
+    /* 0x76 'v' */ { 0x11, 0x11, 0x11, 0x11, 0x11, 0x0A, 0x04 },
+    /* 0x77 'w' */ { 0x11, 0x11, 0x11, 0x13, 0x15, 0x19, 0x11 },
+    /* 0x78 'x' */ { 0x11, 0x11, 0x0A, 0x04, 0x0A, 0x11, 0x11 },
+    /* 0x79 'y' */ { 0x11, 0x11, 0x0A, 0x04, 0x04, 0x04, 0x04 },
+    /* 0x7A 'z' */ { 0x1F, 0x01, 0x02, 0x04, 0x08, 0x10, 0x1F },
+    /* 0x7B '{' */ { 0x06, 0x04, 0x08, 0x0C, 0x08, 0x04, 0x18 },
+    /* 0x7C '|' */ { 0x04, 0x04, 0x04, 0x04, 0x04, 0x04, 0x04 },
+    /* 0x7D '}' */ { 0x0C, 0x04, 0x02, 0x06, 0x02, 0x04, 0x06 },
+    /* 0x7E '~' */ { 0x00, 0x1B, 0x16, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00 },
+};
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/main/ui_task.c b/main/ui_task.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9c997fd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/main/ui_task.c
@@ -0,0 +1,75 @@
+/*
+ * MTG RFID Companion - UI task (Core 1)
+ */
+
+#include <string.h>
+#include "freertos/FreeRTOS.h"
+#include "freertos/task.h"
+#include "esp_log.h"
+#include "display_manager.h"
+#include "ui_task.h"
+
+static const char *TAG = "ui";
+
+#define UI_TASK_STACK (8 * 1024)
+#define UI_TASK_PRIO  (5)
+#define UI_CORE       (1)
+
+static TaskHandle_t s_ui_task = NULL;
+
+static void draw_color_bars(void)
+{
+    static const uint16_t bars[] = {
+        COLOR_WHITE, COLOR_YELLOW, COLOR_CYAN, COLOR_GREEN,
+        COLOR_MAGENTA, COLOR_RED, COLOR_BLUE, COLOR_BLACK
+    };
+    const int band = DISP_W / 8;
+    for (int i = 0; i < 8; i++) {
+        display_fill_rect(i * band, 0, (i + 1) * band, 64, bars[i]);
+    }
+}
+
+static void ui_boot_demo(void)
+{
+    ESP_LOGI(TAG, "UI demo: color bars");
+    draw_color_bars();
+    vTaskDelay(pdMS_TO_TICKS(1500));
+
+    ESP_LOGI(TAG, "UI demo: text rendering");
+    display_fill(COLOR_BLACK);
+    display_put_text_center(8, "MTG RFID COMPANION", COLOR_YELLOW, COLOR_BLACK);
+    display_put_text(16, 40, "UID: 04A2B3C4", COLOR_GREEN, COLOR_BLACK);
+    display_put_text(16, 56, "SOL RING", COLOR_WHITE, COLOR_BLACK);
+    display_put_text(16, 72, "MANA {1}", COLOR_CYAN, COLOR_BLACK);
+    display_put_text(16, 88, "PRICE $1.25", COLOR_MAGENTA, COLOR_BLACK);
+    vTaskDelay(pdMS_TO_TICKS(2000));
+
+    ESP_LOGI(TAG, "UI demo: JPEG decode from LittleFS");
+    display_show_jpeg_file("/spiffs/cards/sample.jpg");
+    vTaskDelay(pdMS_TO_TICKS(3000));
+
+    ESP_LOGI(TAG, "UI demo complete");
+}
+
+static void ui_task(void *arg)
+{
+    (void)arg;
+    ESP_LOGI(TAG, "UI task on core %d", xPortGetCoreID());
+    ui_boot_demo();
+    ESP_LOGI(TAG, "UI task entering idle render loop");
+    while (1) {
+        /* Placeholder idle loop; state-driven rendering lands in Phase 7. */
+        vTaskDelay(pdMS_TO_TICKS(100));
+    }
+}
+
+esp_err_t ui_task_start(void)
+{
+    xTaskCreatePinnedToCore(ui_task, "ui_task", UI_TASK_STACK, NULL, UI_TASK_PRIO, &s_ui_task, UI_CORE);
+    return ESP_OK;
+}
+
+void ui_task_wait_boot(void)
+{
+    /* Expose for later phases; currently no-op before state machine lands. */
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/main/ui_task.h b/main/ui_task.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..23cff8a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/main/ui_task.h
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+/*
+ * MTG RFID Companion - UI task (Core 1)
+ *
+ * Phase 4: Dedicated renderer task pinned to Core 1. Runs the boot-time
+ * visual validation sequence (color bars, text, JPEG decode).
+ */
+
+#pragma once
+
+#include "esp_err.h"
+#include <stdbool.h>
+
+#ifdef __cplusplus
+extern "C" {
+#endif
+
+/**
+ * @brief Create and start the UI renderer task pinned to Core 1.
+ */
+esp_err_t ui_task_start(void);
+
+/**
+ * @brief Block until the Core-1 renderer task has finished its boot demo.
+ */
+void ui_task_wait_boot(void);
+
+#ifdef __cplusplus
+}
+#endif
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/sdkconfig b/sdkconfig
index 82e5275..0d29b75 100644
--- a/sdkconfig
+++ b/sdkconfig
@@ -2053,6 +2053,23 @@ CONFIG_WIFI_PROV_STA_ALL_CHANNEL_SCAN=y
 CONFIG_RC522_PREVENT_SECTOR_TRAILER_WRITE=y
 # end of RC522
 
+#
+# JPEG Decoder
+#
+# CONFIG_JD_USE_ROM is not set
+CONFIG_JD_SZBUF=512
+CONFIG_JD_FORMAT=1
+# CONFIG_JD_FORMAT_RGB888 is not set
+CONFIG_JD_FORMAT_RGB565=y
+CONFIG_JD_USE_SCALE=y
+CONFIG_JD_TBLCLIP=y
+CONFIG_JD_FASTDECODE=1
+# CONFIG_JD_FASTDECODE_BASIC is not set
+CONFIG_JD_FASTDECODE_32BIT=y
+# CONFIG_JD_FASTDECODE_TABLE is not set
+# CONFIG_JD_DEFAULT_HUFFMAN is not set
+# end of JPEG Decoder
+
 #
 # LittleFS
 #
diff --git a/sdkconfig.defaults b/sdkconfig.defaults
index 1233692..b03d2a7 100644
--- a/sdkconfig.defaults
+++ b/sdkconfig.defaults
@@ -5,4 +5,10 @@ CONFIG_PARTITION_TABLE_CUSTOM=y
 CONFIG_PARTITION_TABLE_CUSTOM_FILENAME="partitions.csv"
 CONFIG_ESPTOOLPY_FLASHMODE_DIO=y
 CONFIG_VFS_SUPPORT_DIR=y
-CONFIG_FREERTOS_SMP=y
\ No newline at end of file
+CONFIG_FREERTOS_SMP=y
+
+# tjpgd / esp_jpeg: use source tjpgd (granular line-by-line API), RGB565 out
+CONFIG_JD_USE_ROM=n
+CONFIG_JD_SZBUF=512
+CONFIG_JD_FORMAT_RGB565=y
+CONFIG_JD_FASTDECODE_32BIT=y
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/storage/cards/sample.jpg b/storage/cards/sample.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..251af3d
Binary files /dev/null and b/storage/cards/sample.jpg differ
diff --git a/storage/cards/sample.json b/storage/cards/sample.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..85cde57
--- /dev/null
+++ b/storage/cards/sample.json
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+{
+  "name": "Sol Ring",
+  "mana_cost": "{1}",
+  "type": "Artifact",
+  "oracle": "Tap: Add CC.",
+  "price_usd": "1.25"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/storage/mappings.json b/storage/mappings.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..27d928a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/storage/mappings.json
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+{
+  "04A2B3C4": "Sol Ring",
+  "04E1F2A3": "Atraxa, Praetors' Voice"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tools/make_sample_jpg.ps1 b/tools/make_sample_jpg.ps1
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..af0bb27
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/make_sample_jpg.ps1
@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+$ErrorActionPreference = "Stop"
+Add-Type -AssemblyName System.Drawing
+
+$dir = "storage\cards"
+New-Item -ItemType Directory -Force -Path $dir | Out-Null
+New-Item -ItemType Directory -Force -Path "storage" | Out-Null
+
+$w = 240
+$h = 320
+$bmp = New-Object System.Drawing.Bitmap($w, $h)
+$g = [System.Drawing.Graphics]::FromImage($bmp)
+$g.SmoothingMode = [System.Drawing.Drawing2D.SmoothingMode]::AntiAlias
+
+# Vertical gradient: one fast FillRectangle per row
+for ($y = 0; $y -lt $h; $y++) {
+    $blue = [byte]([int]((255 * $y) / ($h - 1)))
+    $green = [byte]([int]((255 * (($y * 7) % $h)) / $h))
+    $red = [byte]([int]((255 * (($y * 3) % $h)) / $h))
+    $b = [System.Drawing.SolidBrush]::new([System.Drawing.Color]::FromArgb($red, $green, $blue))
+    $g.FillRectangle($b, 0, $y, $w, 1)
+    $b.Dispose()
+}
+
+# Diagonal stripe for visual aliasing check
+$stripe = [System.Drawing.SolidBrush]::new([System.Drawing.Color]::FromArgb(255, 255, 255))
+for ($x = -$h; $x -lt $w; $x += 40) {
+    $pts = [System.Drawing.Point[]]@(
+        [System.Drawing.Point]::new($x, 0),
+        [System.Drawing.Point]::new($x + 20, 0),
+        [System.Drawing.Point]::new($x + 20 + $h, $h),
+        [System.Drawing.Point]::new($x + $h, $h)
+    )
+    $g.FillPolygon($stripe, $pts)
+}
+$stripe.Dispose()
+
+$font = [System.Drawing.Font]::new([System.Drawing.FontFamily]::GenericSansSerif, 22, [System.Drawing.FontStyle]::Bold)
+$font2 = [System.Drawing.Font]::new([System.Drawing.FontFamily]::GenericSansSerif, 14, [System.Drawing.FontStyle]::Bold)
+$white = [System.Drawing.Brushes]::White
+$black = [System.Drawing.Brushes]::Black
+
+# Text with outline
+$txt1 = "MTG RFID"
+$txt2 = "COMPANION"
+$sz1 = $g.MeasureString($txt1, $font)
+$g.DrawString($txt1, $font, $black, 28 - 2, 40 - 2)
+$g.DrawString($txt1, $font, $white, 28, 40)
+$g.DrawString($txt2, $font, $black, 28 - 2, 40 + $sz1.Height - 2)
+$g.DrawString($txt2, $font, $white, 28, 40 + $sz1.Height)
+$g.DrawString("240x320 RGB565", $font2, $white, 28, 260)
+$g.DrawString("ST7789 TJPGD", $font2, $white, 28, 285)
+
+$bmp.Save("$dir\sample.jpg", [System.Drawing.Imaging.ImageFormat]::Jpeg)
+$g.Dispose()
+$bmp.Dispose()
+Get-Item "$dir\sample.jpg" | Select-Object FullName, Length
\ No newline at end of file