Unable to load avatar using st.image

Using Streamlit
1

I am trying to load a custom PNG image as an avatar in st.chat_message using st.image. Here’s my code:

import streamlit as st
import streamlit_shadcn_ui as ui


st.title('Hello World!')

st.write('This is a simple example of a Streamlit app.')

while True:
    for i in range(50):
        if i % 2 == 0:
            col1, col2 = st.columns([1,4])
            with col1:
                # with st.chat_message('Momos', avatar=':material/man:'):
                with st.chat_message('Momos', avatar=st.image('./jonathan.png', width=50)):
                    st.write(i)
        else:
            col1, col2 = st.columns([4,1])
            with col2:
                with st.chat_message('Momos', avatar=st.image('./jonathan.png', width=50)):
                    st.write(i)

The app is loading the image, I can see it on the app page. But then I am getting the following error:

File "D:\repositories\streamlit\.venv\Lib\site-packages\streamlit\elements\widgets\chat.py", line 106, in _process_avatar_input
    raise StreamlitAPIException(
        "Failed to load the provided avatar value as an image."
    ) from ex
streamlit.errors.StreamlitAPIException: Failed to load the provided avatar value as an image.

It’s an image I downloaded from Robohash.

2

I have the same issue: any solution?