An array of Surface Emitting Laser (SEL) elements can be used to efficiently pump a disk or rod of solid-state laser glass or crystal, or harmonic-generating crystal. Placing the laser array chip against or near the surface of this solid-state material provides very high and uniform optical power density without the need for lenses or fiber-optics to conduct the light from typical edge-emitting lasers, usually formed in a stack of bars. The lasers can operate in multi-mode output for highest output powers. Photolithography allows for an infinite variety of connection patterns of sub-groups of lasers within the array, allowing for spatial contouring of the optical pumping power across the face of the solid-state material. The solid-state material may be pumped either within (intra-cavity) or externally (extra-cavity) to the SEL laser array.