Chekmenev has been documenting post-Soviet life in Ukraine since the 1990s. He became known for his Donbass series. It provides an intimate and unique insight into the transformation of the coal mining region in eastern Ukraine and its impact on the people living there in the 1990s. 

In his latest series, Citizens of Kyiv, the photographer has dedicated himself to those who are defying the Russian war of aggression in Kiev. Against a dark background, he portrays the civilian population and gives expression to their daily resistance. Chekmenev is an artist who looks closely without succumbing to voyeurism, who uses his camera respectfully and with great sensitivity.
"For me, people always come first. The country is made up of people, and I want to make each and every one of them visible and pay tribute to them through my photographs."

The exhibition also shows older black and white photographs of everyday life in the city of Odessa. A lively metropolis, characterized by a rich history and cultural diversity. 

International newspapers and magazines publish his photographs. The New York TIMES magazine has dedicated a special issue to his Citizens of Kyiv series. 
Alexander Chekmenev is represented in international collections such as the Center Pompidou, Paris (FR) and the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam (NL).