diff --git a/src/cedalion/vis/blocks.py b/src/cedalion/vis/blocks.py
index 3875676e..1863006a 100644
--- a/src/cedalion/vis/blocks.py
+++ b/src/cedalion/vis/blocks.py
@@ -163,6 +163,8 @@ def plot_surface(
         - Masha Iudina | mashayudi@gmail.com | 2024
     """
 
+    textured_path = False
+
     if pick_landmarks and surface.units != cedalion.units.mm:
         raise NotImplementedError(
             "plot_surface(pick_landmarks=...) currently requires a surface "
@@ -174,7 +176,22 @@ def plot_surface(
     if isinstance(surface, cdc.VTKSurface):
         mesh = surface.mesh
     elif isinstance(surface, cdc.TrimeshSurface):
-        mesh = cdc.VTKSurface.from_trimeshsurface(surface).mesh
+        # UV-mapped path: preserves texture at pixel resolution instead of
+        # collapsing to per-vertex color (which smears sub-vertex features on
+        # coarse meshes like Scaniverse scans).
+        tri_visual = surface.mesh.visual
+        tri_uv = getattr(tri_visual, "uv", None)
+        tri_img = getattr(tri_visual, "image", None) or getattr(
+            getattr(tri_visual, "material", None), "image", None
+        )
+        if tri_uv is not None and tri_img is not None:
+            from cedalion.vtktutils import trimesh_to_pv_textured_polydata
+            mesh, texture = trimesh_to_pv_textured_polydata(surface.mesh)
+            if texture is not None and "texture" not in kwargs:
+                kwargs["texture"] = texture
+            textured_path = True
+        else:
+            mesh = cdc.VTKSurface.from_trimeshsurface(surface).mesh
     else:
         raise ValueError("unsupported mesh")
 
@@ -223,9 +240,11 @@ def plot_surface(
     if "pickable" not in kwargs:
         kwargs["pickable"] = True
     if "smooth_shading" not in kwargs:
-        kwargs["smooth_shading"] = True
+        # smooth_shading + split_sharp_edges recompute normals and duplicate
+        # vertices along sharp edges, which mangles UVs on the textured path.
+        kwargs["smooth_shading"] = not textured_path
     if "split_sharp_edges" not in kwargs:
-        kwargs["split_sharp_edges"] = True
+        kwargs["split_sharp_edges"] = not textured_path
     if "feature_angle" not in kwargs:
         kwargs["feature_angle"] = 90
 
diff --git a/src/cedalion/vtktutils.py b/src/cedalion/vtktutils.py
index ce0972d6..70da790c 100644
--- a/src/cedalion/vtktutils.py
+++ b/src/cedalion/vtktutils.py
@@ -54,6 +54,46 @@ def trimesh_to_vtk_polydata(mesh: trimesh.Trimesh):
     return vtk_mesh
 
 
+def trimesh_to_pv_textured_polydata(
+    mesh: trimesh.Trimesh,
+) -> tuple[pv.PolyData, "pv.Texture | None"]:
+    """Convert a textured trimesh to a UV-mapped PyVista PolyData.
+
+    Preserves the mesh's UV coordinates as active texture coordinates and
+    returns the texture image as a ``pv.Texture`` so callers can UV-map the
+    texture image at pixel resolution instead of sampling it once per vertex
+    (as :func:`trimesh_to_vtk_polydata` does). This matters on coarse meshes
+    where per-vertex sampling smears sub-vertex texture features.
+
+    Args:
+        mesh: The input trimesh. UVs are read from ``mesh.visual.uv`` and the
+            texture image from ``mesh.visual.image`` or
+            ``mesh.visual.material.image``.
+
+    Returns:
+        Tuple of (PyVista PolyData with active texture coordinates set when
+        available, pv.Texture for the mesh's image or ``None`` if the mesh
+        has no usable UV+image combination).
+    """
+    faces = np.hstack(
+        [np.full((len(mesh.faces), 1), 3, dtype=np.int64), mesh.faces]
+    ).ravel()
+    poly = pv.PolyData(np.asarray(mesh.vertices, dtype=np.float64), faces)
+
+    visual = mesh.visual
+    uv = getattr(visual, "uv", None)
+    img = getattr(visual, "image", None) or getattr(
+        getattr(visual, "material", None), "image", None
+    )
+
+    if uv is None or img is None:
+        return poly, None
+
+    poly.active_texture_coordinates = np.asarray(uv, dtype=np.float32)
+    texture = pv.Texture(np.asarray(img.convert("RGB")))
+    return poly, texture
+
+
 def pyvista_polydata_to_trimesh(polydata: pv.PolyData) -> trimesh.Trimesh:
     """Convert a PyVista PolyData object to a Trimesh object.
 
diff --git a/tests/test_vtktutils.py b/tests/test_vtktutils.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..0c9e01dc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_vtktutils.py
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+"""Tests for cedalion.vtktutils."""
+
+import numpy as np
+import pyvista as pv
+import trimesh
+from PIL import Image
+
+from cedalion.vtktutils import trimesh_to_pv_textured_polydata
+
+
+def _quad_trimesh_with_uv() -> trimesh.Trimesh:
+    verts = np.array(
+        [[0.0, 0.0, 0.0], [1.0, 0.0, 0.0], [1.0, 1.0, 0.0], [0.0, 1.0, 0.0]]
+    )
+    faces = np.array([[0, 1, 2], [0, 2, 3]])
+    uv = np.array(
+        [[0.0, 0.0], [1.0, 0.0], [1.0, 1.0], [0.0, 1.0]], dtype=np.float32
+    )
+    img = Image.new("RGB", (4, 4), (255, 0, 0))
+    mesh = trimesh.Trimesh(vertices=verts, faces=faces, process=False)
+    mesh.visual = trimesh.visual.TextureVisuals(uv=uv, image=img)
+    return mesh
+
+
+def test_trimesh_to_pv_textured_polydata_uses_uvs():
+    mesh = _quad_trimesh_with_uv()
+
+    poly, tex = trimesh_to_pv_textured_polydata(mesh)
+
+    # UV-mapped path: active texture coordinates are set, no per-vertex
+    # RGB scalars.
+    assert isinstance(poly, pv.PolyData)
+    assert poly.active_texture_coordinates is not None
+    assert poly.active_texture_coordinates.shape == (4, 2)
+    assert poly.GetPointData().GetScalars() is None
+    assert isinstance(tex, pv.Texture)
+
+
+def test_trimesh_to_pv_textured_polydata_no_texture_returns_none():
+    verts = np.array([[0.0, 0.0, 0.0], [1.0, 0.0, 0.0], [0.0, 1.0, 0.0]])
+    faces = np.array([[0, 1, 2]])
+    mesh = trimesh.Trimesh(vertices=verts, faces=faces, process=False)
+
+    poly, tex = trimesh_to_pv_textured_polydata(mesh)
+
+    assert isinstance(poly, pv.PolyData)
+    assert tex is None