If Lancaster has any street cred in the world of pop art, then thanks should go to Metropolis.

Seriously, who else could arrange an exhibit that centers on the artwork of Sons of Nero, one of the most awesome graphic design studios in the music business?

The exhibit, which opens today with a reception from 6 to 10 p.m., is a "first ever" event for the Sons of Nero, who are Mathew Hay (AKA Portland), Aaron Marsh, Starr James, and Phil Mamula.

Metropolis is definitely the right venue for the event, since it's a lifestyle store where punk aesthetics and fine art doesn't collide, but rather lives together in symphonic harmony.

The exhibit will feature various pieces of Nero's extensive portfolio, which includes fine-art prints, silk-screened posters and original illustrations that will be available for purchase.

Portland, who founded the studio of designers based in Lawrenceville, N.J., will be on hand to meet and greet visitors.

When asked about Nero's reputation as the benchmark design studio for album art and other media for the past 10 years, Portland said the studio's success has everything to do with loving the job.

"Nothing is more inspiring then to wake up every morning knowing that you have a dream job that revolves solely around making and creating art," he said. "Since we work primarily in the music industry, we get the amazing opportunity of helping to brand a band and shape what is, hopefully, the better parts of its life.

"Our inspiration really comes from our ability to turn what we love into a career."

Sons of Nero has created art for bands such as Every Time I Die, A Static Lullaby, Senses Fail, Emanuel, In Flames and The Used.

The Metropolis exhibit is a retrospective honoring Sons of Nero's impact in the genre of metalcore music, and gives a nod to the contemporary fine art forms that have influenced the designers.

Metropolis founders Lisa and Angelo Madrigale said they're happy to give album art the credit it's due.

"I love product art," Angelo said. "I mean, if you're downloading a lot of music, you may be missing out on the art — but then again, the CD generation missed out, too.

"People like my dad got some of the best art," he said. "He'd go out and buy a Beatles album for the music, but the record also came with all this great cover art and fold-outs. With CDs, the art did get smaller."

The Madrigales understand the connection between contemporary music and art.

Angelo is the drummer of local post-punk band Sadaharu, while Lisa was a show promoter in Detroit, Mich., for 10 years.

"You can't think of the Velvet Underground without thinking of Andy Warhol," Angelo said.

Since the exhibit is a first for Sons of Nero, the display will include special giclee prints of the designers' favorite album covers and other "extremely limited" art.

So far, the Madrigales' track record for bringing these kinds of events to Lancaster is smoking. In September the gallery hosted a successful debut party for Kidrobot's new Dunny Series 5.

The gallery also brought the traveling art show, "Everybody Make Some Noise!" (organized by artist Mike Ski) to town.

"It's great, bringing in art most people associate with the scenes in New York and L.A.," Angelo said. "It's also great for the artists when they come to Lancaster.

"During an opening, they usually just meet people from their demo, but here they may get feedback from, say, a little kid, or an elderly buyer and just people who may have never seen their work before," he said. "So, the rewards go both ways, which is what we like."

The Sons of Nero, reception today, 6-10 p.m., through Nov. 30, Metropolis, 154 N. Prince St., 572-9961.

E-mail: cdifonzo@lnpnews.com