LOS ANGELES, CA.- A one-of-a kind, handpainted guitar by modern art superstar Mark Ryden could become the most expensive guitar ever sold when it goes under the hammer in Los Angeles next week, auctioneers said on Tuesday.

Ryden, whose recent sold-out opening garnered sales topping several million dollars, including one piece that went for $800,000, has catapulted him to the top of the modern pop art movement. It is expected that the sale price of the guitar should top the $800,000 figure. It is the only original piece of art by Ryden that is available on the open art market. The guitar may be viewed and bid upon at ebay.com: Mark Ryden's Six String Masterpiece

The fully playable, painted Dean ML electric guitar is being offered for sale as part of a charitable auction and concert benefiting Little Kids Rock, a nonprofit that provides free instruments and lessons to low-income children across the US . The auction and concert are part of an art exhibit called Six-String Masterpieces, a tribute to heavy-metal legend Darrell Abbott of Pantera/Damageplan. The auction also features original paintings by Billy F Gibbons (ZZ Top), Marilyn Manson, Alex Grey, Moby, James Hetfield of Metallica, Dave Grohl of Nirvana/Foo Fighters, NY urban art superstar Ryan McGinness along with 60 other pieces. The other pieces being auctioned may be viewed and bid upon on eBay’s Live Auction site .

The most expensive guitar ever sold to-date was Eric Clapton's prized Stratocaster, "Blackie" for $959,500. Ryden's high-profile status in the modern art world stands to bring in a whole new level of modern art collectors to the guitar auction. This gives the Ryden guitar a good shot at breaking the record.

The auction will end on stage at House of Blues Sunset Strip on May 17 at 8pm (PDT). The exhibit is available for preview at LaLuz DeJesus Gallery in Los Angeles from May 4 to 16. Bids will also be accepted at the gallery. For more information about the auction and benefit concert, visit: http://www.littlekidsrock.org/6string

Tickets for the May 17th event which will be followed by an all-star benefit concert in support of Little Kids Rock may be purchased at http://www.hob.com

Little Kids Rock believes that music is a critical component of a first-rate education. Many schools have been stripped of their music programs. These cuts have had a disproportionately large impact on children from low-income backgrounds. Little Kids Rock restores music to its rightful place in the academic lives of kids in our public schools by providing a rich music education program including instrument instruction, free instruments and trained mentors. Founded by an elementary school teacher in 1996, Little Kids Rock is now serving thousands of students in CA, GA, LA, NY, NJ and TN. More information can be found at: www.littlekidsrock.org.