As disclosed herein, a plasmonic up-converter apparatus includes an excitation source operable to emit electromagnetic radiation at an excitation frequency and at least one array of nanofeatures. The at least one array of nanofeatures is configured to produce an emission spectrum responsive to irradiation by the electromagnetic radiation. The emission spectrum has an intensity at a second harmonic frequency or a third harmonic frequency approximately equal to an intensity at a fundamental harmonic frequency, with the fundamental harmonic frequency being approximately equal to the excitation frequency. Additional aspects are directed to a display that utilizes any of the disclosed plasmonic up-converter apparatuses, a laser in which a laser medium is optically pumped using electromagnetic radiation produced by one of the disclosed plasmonic up-converter apparatuses, and methods of up-converting electromagnetic radiation.