Finding Gauguin tracks the journey of Adam, a young American painter in search of his reclusive idol, Paul Gauguin. Gauguin, a renowned painter and hedonist, has settled in a remote part of the Pacific Islands known as the Marquesas, and taken a beautiful young native girl as his wife. Gauguin initially rejects Adam's appeal to become his apprentice, but soon realizes that mentoring the young artist may be a means of redeeming himself. He takes the young painter under his wing and teaches him his philosophy that life and creativity are inseparable. As Gauguin's health deteriorates, they form a close bond as they work to finish Gauguin's final masterpiece. Finding Gauguin is a fictitious story about an artist whom many consider to be the "Father of Modern Art."