diff --git a/.changeset/lemon-lizards-scream.md b/.changeset/lemon-lizards-scream.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..2dbb55e8f0d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/lemon-lizards-scream.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+'@shopify/polaris': patch
+---
+
+Added support for `Avatar` being presentational
diff --git a/polaris-react/src/components/Avatar/Avatar.tsx b/polaris-react/src/components/Avatar/Avatar.tsx
index 535d8fa65cd..91eb598dbc2 100644
--- a/polaris-react/src/components/Avatar/Avatar.tsx
+++ b/polaris-react/src/components/Avatar/Avatar.tsx
@@ -109,8 +109,6 @@ export function Avatar({
     label = i18n.translate('Polaris.Avatar.labelWithInitials', {
       initials: splitInitials,
     });
-  } else {
-    label = i18n.translate('Polaris.Avatar.label');
   }
 
   const className = classNames(
@@ -175,7 +173,11 @@ export function Avatar({
   );
 
   return (
-    <span aria-label={label} role="img" className={className}>
+    <span
+      aria-label={label}
+      role={label ? 'img' : 'presentation'}
+      className={className}
+    >
       {svgMarkup}
       {imageMarkUp}
     </span>
diff --git a/polaris-react/src/components/Avatar/tests/Avatar.test.tsx b/polaris-react/src/components/Avatar/tests/Avatar.test.tsx
index 1487bf253c5..7e092749099 100644
--- a/polaris-react/src/components/Avatar/tests/Avatar.test.tsx
+++ b/polaris-react/src/components/Avatar/tests/Avatar.test.tsx
@@ -169,4 +169,22 @@ describe('<Avatar />', () => {
       });
     });
   });
+
+  describe('accessibilityRole', () => {
+    it('is presentation role if name, initials, or accessibilityLabel not passed', () => {
+      const avatar = mountWithApp(<Avatar />);
+
+      expect(avatar).toContainReactComponent('span', {
+        role: 'presentation',
+      });
+    });
+
+    it('is img role if name passed', () => {
+      const avatar = mountWithApp(<Avatar name="Hello World" />);
+
+      expect(avatar).toContainReactComponent('span', {
+        role: 'img',
+      });
+    });
+  });
 });